College of Idaho Dominates Arizona Christian in NAIA Fab Four

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Monday night, the College of Idaho Yotes showcased a commanding performance against Arizona Christian University, winning 72-45 in the NAIA Fab Four at the Municipal Auditorium. The Yotes never trailed, establishing a double-digit lead within the first five minutes of the game.

Four players for College of Idaho reached double figures, led by Samaje Morgan’s game-high 14 points. Straton Rogers added 11 points, while Tyler Robinett and Drew Wyman contributed 10 points each. In contrast, Amaechi Chukwu was the only player for Arizona Christian in double digits, scoring 13 points. The Firestorm struggled offensively, shooting just 26.3 percent from the field.

The Yotes capitalized on their height advantage, scoring 32 points in the paint and converting eight fast-break opportunities. College of Idaho also dominated on the boards, outrebounding Arizona Christian 47-43.

The victory improved College of Idaho’s record to 34-2 and secured their spot in the 2025 NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship Game, scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Arizona Christian, on the other hand, falls to 30-5.

The game’s momentum turned quickly when Morgan darted to a lay-up following a steal, capping an early 9-0 run. C of I took a commanding 16-2 lead at the first media timeout with 14:08 left in the first half. Just over two minutes later, Morgan scored again to extend the lead to 20-3.

Johnny Radford further pushed the Yotes’ advantage, hitting a three-pointer and converting a foul shot to widen the gap to 26-7 with just under ten minutes left in the half. After just ten minutes, C of I forced six turnovers from Arizona Christian.

Defensively, the Yotes stifled the Firestorm, limiting their shooting to 19 percent by halftime while managing to shoot 42 percent themselves. College of Idaho entered the break with a significant 38-16 advantage.

During the second half, back-to-back fast breaks by Rogers and Paul Wilson maintained the momentum, extending the lead to 55-30 at the under-10 timeout. With 4:01 left in the game, Wyman scored after retrieving a tipped pass, bringing the score to 66-40. In the final moments, C of I effectively closed out the game, relinquishing only five points to Arizona Christian.

Looking ahead, College of Idaho awaits the winner of the semifinal matchup between Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan, which will air live on UEN and the NAIA Network.