KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – In 1996, Oregon Tech handed eventual NAIA national champion and No. 1-ranked Life University their only loss of the season at Danny Miles Court. Tonight, lightning could not strike twice, as top-ranked and Cascade Conference leading College of Idaho rode a career-high 21 points from Tyler Robinett in an 87-75 victory over the Hustlin' Owls.
 
"That is the best C of I team I have ever seen," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "They come at you in waves. That being said, I am super-super proud of our effort tonight – but there are times when someone is better than you and C of I is better than us right now. I think they can go and win the whole thing (NAIA Championship)."
 
The Owls (8-10, 5-7 CCC) controlled the pace early on, getting 3's from Keegan Shivers and Kaison Faust in an 8-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. A triple from Jay Elmore and an inside bucket from Blake Jensen helped the hosts to a 21-14 advantage, before 7-foot post Paul Wilson scored eight points in a 20-6 C of I flurry to give the Yotes a 34-27 lead.
 
A Jamison Guerra 3-pointer got OIT within 42-39 late in the half, but a 4-point play from Johnny Radford and late buckets from Straton Rogers and Samaje Morgan, helped the Yotes (17-1, 12-0) take a 52-42 lead to the locker room.
 
Robinett took charge in the second half, scoring 13 points – including the first five C of I points of the frame – as the visitors kept a double-digit lead throughout.
 
The loss spoiled a career-night from Shivers – tying a career-high with 27 points and adding a career-best 12 rebounds. The sophomore made 7-of-11 3-pointers – his second game in an OIT uniform with seven triples.
 
Guerra added 16 points and a career-best nine rebounds, with Elmore and Faust each scoring nine. Tech lost despite making 14-of-26 3-pointers against the top defensive team in the CCC, as the Yotes turned 11 offensive rebounds and 12 OIT turnovers into 33 points.
 
Both Wilson and Radford scored 15 in the win for C of I, with Morgan scoring 13 points, adding a game-high 11 assists. It was the Yotes 17-straight win after a season opening loss.
 
The Hustlin' Owls return to the court tomorrow, hosting Eastern Oregon at 5 p.m. in the annual Pink-Out Game. The first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative Pink-Out t-shirt, compliments of Sky Lakes Breast Health Services.