State Colleges

Treasure Valley college team ascends to No. 1 national ranking

By Chadd Cripe
College of Idaho point guard Talon Pinckney drives through Northwest Nazarene’s defense during the United Heritage Mayors’ Cup on Tuesday in Caldwell. The Yotes won 86-82 in double overtime.
College of Idaho point guard Talon Pinckney drives through Northwest Nazarene’s defense during the United Heritage Mayors’ Cup on Tuesday in Caldwell. The Yotes won 86-82 in double overtime. Darin Oswald doswald@idahostatesman.com

The College of Idaho men’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 for the first time in 27 years.

The Yotes (13-1) moved into the top spot in the NAIA Division II coaches’ poll released Tuesday. The last time they were No. 1 was in November 1991, when the first NAIA Division II poll was released.

College of Idaho has wins against No. 13 Southern Oregon and No. 24 Oregon Tech, and at NAIA Division I No. 10 Lewis-Clark State. Its only counting loss was Nov. 20 at NNU (receiving votes in NCAA Division II), a week after C of I won the teams’ first meeting.

College of Idaho will put its top ranking on the line Saturday at Corban, Sunday at Northwest Christian and next Tuesday against Eastern Oregon in Caldwell.

This story was originally published December 11, 2018 at 4:27 PM.

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