College of Idaho beats Indiana Tech 73-71 for NAIA title

By The Associated Press
College of Idaho guard Jake O'Neil celebrates after the NAIA men's national championship college basketball game against Indiana Tech Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. College of Idaho won 73-71. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Charlie Riedel]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jake O’Neil has 15 points and 12 rebounds and College of Idaho blew most of a 23-point second-half lead before holding on to beat Indiana Tech 73-71 in the NAIA national championship game. College of Idaho has won 36 games in a row — a program record and the longest active win streak in men’s college basketball (all divisions) — since a season-opening 82-78 loss at Arizona Christian. Blake Davison scored the Warriors’ first five points in a 12-2 run that cut it a two-point game with a minute to go and Grant Smith made 1-of-2 free throws to make it 72-71 with 12 seconds left. Smith missed a potential tying jumper just before the buzzer. Rog Stein led Indiana Tech with 18 points and eight rebounds.

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