CALDWELL, Idaho – The comeback fell just short for No. 17 LC State Men's Basketball on Saturday against the 18th-ranked College of Idaho Yotes. C of I led by as many as 16 before the Warriors came back within five late in the contest. LC fell 69-55 in a battle of the top teams in the Cascade Conference.
 
"Proud of our guys for finding a way to have a chance late in the game," Head Coach Austin Johnson said. "It showed a lot of heart and togetherness. We need to find some ways to manufacture offense when shots aren't falling, but ultimately, we need to be able to develop more of a defensive identity. Excited to get to work with them after the break."
 
After grabbing a pair of rebounds, Al Sommerfield put the first points on the board with a jumper. C of I took a slim lead on an and-one play before Kevin Baker put LC back in front with a jumper and 3-pointer. Sam Stockton put back an offensive rebound to keep the Warriors ahead by four, 11-7, at 11:11.
 
C of I evened the score at 11 apiece midway through the half before Brennen Newsom gave LC a two-point lead 30 seconds later. Sommerfield drained a 3 to break at 13-13 tie as the teams went basket-for-basket.
 
The Yotes jumped in front with a 12-point stretch to take a 27-18 lead by 3:45. Nathan Fromm cut the run with a jumper at 3:30, but C of I continued to control the pace of the game. Baker found the basket before the end of the half, but LC trailed 33-24 at the break.
 
C of I carried the momentum over into the second half with six straight points to take control of the contest. Seven straight LC points, including a triple and free throw by Khalil Stevenson, brought the Warriors within nine with seven minutes to play.
 
A 3 by Baker, free throws by Stevenson and a layup by Teagen Hoard cut the margin to five as the clock ran down, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.
 
Baker led the Warriors with 20 points and seven rebounds. Courtney added nine points and six boards, and Stevenson dished out three assists.
 
The Warriors committed just seven turnovers and held C of I to 18.8 percent from 3-point range. LC shot 31.3 percent from the floor.
 
LC State will take a week off before returning home to host Warner Pacific on New Year's Eve. The Warriors host Multnomah on New Year's Day. Links to tickets and live coverage can be found at lcwarriors.com.
 
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