Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Caldwell, Idaho – Dickinson State (1-3) faced a tough matchup on the road against #2 College of Idaho, falling 90-61 in the Taco Bell Shootout at J.A. Albertson Activity Center on Saturday night. Despite strong shooting in the second half, the Blue Hawks couldn't overcome College of Idaho's dominant first-half performance.
College of Idaho (2-0) took control early, shooting 59.3% from the field in the first half and finishing the game shooting 64.3%. The Yotes held Dickinson State to 30.8% shooting in the first half, which allowed them to build a commanding 44-20 lead by halftime. The Blue Hawks struggled to keep pace on the glass as well, as College of Idaho outrebounded them 36-20 overall.
Trey Stevens led Dickinson State in scoring, finishing with 21 points, including five three-pointers, hitting 8 of 14 shots from the field. Cordell Stinson added 9 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, while John Evans contributed 9 points. Overall, Dickinson State improved its shooting percentage to 48.4% in the second half, including an impressive 56.3% from three-point range.
College of Idaho displayed a balanced offensive attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Samaje Morgan led the Yotes with 14 points, followed by Straton Rogers with 13 and Drew Wyman with 9. The Yotes also capitalized on their free throws, making 78.6% of their attempts, compared to Dickinson State's 30.0% from the line.
The Blue Hawks' defense had a hard time containing College of Idaho's offense, as the Yotes scored 58 points in the paint and added 40 points from the bench.