CALDWELL, Idaho – The No. 2-seeded Mountaineers took a short trip over to Caldwell for the CCC Championship on Monday night. Eastern couldn't overcome the No. 1 team in the nation losing 56-87. With the loss EOU now sits at 21-10 overall and will prepare for the national tournament opening round having clinched their spot as the conference's second qualifier.
 
The Mounties opened the game up hanging with the Yotes through the first five minutes. Eastern's only lead of the day actually came on a Phillip Malatare jumper with under 16 minutes to go in the first half. From that point on the College of Idaho took control and didn't relent working their way out to an 11-point lead at the half, 41-30. Eastern's top scoring duo, Phillip Malatare and Emmit Taylor III, had 19 combined points at the break while the Yotes spread it around led by Drew Wyman's seven.
 
College of Idaho proved why they are the number one team in the nation in the second half squeezing the life out of the Mounties. Tough defense from the Yotes held the Mounties under 40% from the field and three while EOU also struggled at the line going just 2-5. The most dominant run of the evening for College of Idaho started with just under 15 minutes to go in the game seeing the Yotes outscore EOU 23-6 over the next seven minutes. From there the Yotes cruised to victory behind Jonny Radford's 12 second-half points. The Yotes doubled up as the regular-season champion and tournament champion with the 87-56 win.
 
Eastern now awaits the announcement of opening round matchups scheduled for Thursday evening. The NAIA will announce official contests at 5 p.m. that day. Opening round games are scheduled to be played at various campus sites on March 7 and 8.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• College of Idaho won the rebound battle 42-29
• The Yotes owned the paint outscoring EOU 40-20 inside
• College of Idaho held the Mounties under 60 points for the third time this season