It took 27 years and a thrilling final 20 minutes of basketball for College of Idaho to earn its second national title. The Yotes held Indiana Tech off just long enough to complete its task and earn a 73-71 victory to hoist the coveted red banner. College of Idaho did what it has done all season and started off the game red hot. The Yotes took control early and broke-off a 19-4 run to get things started. While the offense was impressive, the defense was just as. One of the top five in average defensive scoring margin in the 2023 NAIA National Championship field, the team from Caldwell, Idaho held the Warriors to six points in the first eight minutes, which set the tone. The Yotes led by as much as 21 points in the first half as Tyler Robinett led the way. The sophomore was three-for-three from three-point range and led all scorers with nine points. Charles Elzie (6'1''-G) finished the opening frame with seven as Indiana Tech was able to cut the deficit to 19 before the break. Indiana Tech was held to just over 35 percent from the floor and went 1-7 from the free throw line. Just 24 hours earlier, Indiana Tech erased a 16-point deficit, 11 at the half on their way to a win over Georgetown. On Saturday night, the Warriors looked to do the same and within minutes, began to cut into the lead. Down by as many as 23 with just over 16 minutes to play, the Warriors put together a 10-2 run to begin climbing back. By the 12:01 mark, Rog Stein (6'6''-F) knocked-down a three-ball to put Indiana Tech within 13. Three and a half minutes later, the lead was down to 10 as College of Idaho called a timeout to try to end the momentum. Indiana Tech climbed all the way back as the time continued to wind down. While College of Idaho was able to keep the Warriors at bay for the most part, they finally began to break through in the closing minutes. The team from Fort Wayne brought it all the way back to within four, thanks in large part to the 18 points provided by Rog Stein, but came just short of repeating the magic of one night ago in the closing seconds. Jake O'Neil led the Yotes with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Samaje Morgan (5'9''-PG) added 13 points and Tyler Robinett chipped-in 11. In the end, however, it was Charles Elzie that was named the Chuck Taylor Tournament MVP for his outstanding performance throughout. The junior finished final site play with 67 points. For Indiana Tech, bot Blake Davidson and Max Perez finished with 12 points while Josh Cline recorded 11 to round out the scorers in double digits, along with Stein's 18. College of Idaho finished the season on a 36-game win streak after suffering just one loss in the first game of the season to Arizona Christian. Following the game, the All-Tournament Team was announced:

All-Tournament Team
Charles Elzie - College of Idaho
Samaje Morgan - College of Idaho
Tyler Robinette - College of Idaho
Rog Stein - Indiana Tech
Josh Kline (6'9''-F) - Indiana Tech
Jake Ohmer (6'1''-G) - Georgetown (Ky.)
Kyran Jones (6'5''-F) - Georgetown (Ky.)
Josiah De'laCerda (6'8''-F) - OUAZ (Ariz.)
Kolten Hitt (6'4''-G) - OUAZ (Ariz.)
Elijah Malone (6'9''-C) - Grace (Ind.)

Charles Stevenson Hustle Award
Grant Smith (6'6''-G) - Indiana Tech

Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player
Charles Elzie - College of Idaho

Charles A. Krigel Sportsmanship Award
Kyle Blankenship (6'0''-G) - LSU Shreveport (La.)

NAIA MBB Coach of the Year
Colby Blaine - College of Idaho
Courtesy of: naia.org

Most Valuable Player: Charles Elzie (6'1''-G) of Idaho Coll.
Charles Stevenson Hustle Award: Grant Smith (6'6''-G) of Indiana Tech
Coach of the Year: Colby Blaine of Idaho Coll.

NAIA D1 All-Tournament 1st Team 2023

Elzie

Morgan

Robinett

Stein

Kline

Ohmer

All-Tournament Team
Charles Elzie (6'1''-G) of Idaho Coll.
Samaje Morgan (5'9''-PG) of Idaho Coll.
Tyler Robinett (6'7''-F) of Idaho Coll.
Rog Stein (6'6''-F) of Indiana Tech
Josh Kline (6'9''-F) of Indiana Tech
Jake Ohmer (6'1''-G) of Georgetown, KY
Kyran Jones (6'5''-F) of Georgetown, KY
Josiah De La Cerda (6'8''-F) of OUAZ
Kolten Hitt (6'4''-G) of OUAZ
Elijah Malone (6'9''-C) of Grace

Caleb Bellach (6'7''-F) of Montana Tech
Jalen Brooks (6'5''-G) of LSUS
Cevin Clark (5'11''-PG) of Southwestern, KS
Zach Goodline (6'1''-G-2000) of Huntington
Tristan Harper (6'6''-F) of Langston
CJ Hines (6'3''-G) of Faulkner
Reid Jolly (6'5''-G/F) of Thomas More
Jaden Lietzke (6'7''-F/C) of OKWU
Kaleb Lowery (6'8''-F) of Master's
Riley Minix (6'7''-SF) of Southeastern
Matt Simpson (6'1''-G) of Florida Coll.
Mason Walters (6'9''-F) of Jamestown

Player of the Year: Mason Walters (6'9''-F) of Jamestown

First Team
CJ Hines (6'3''-G) of Faulkner
Matt Simpson (6'1''-G) of Florida Coll.
Zach Goodline (6'1''-G-2000) of Huntington
Mason Walters (6'9''-F) of Jamestown
Tristan Harper (6'6''-F) of Langston
Jalen Brooks (6'5''-G) of LSUS
Caleb Bellach (6'7''-F) of Montana Tech
Jaden Lietzke (6'7''-F/C) of OKWU
Riley Minix (6'7''-SF) of Southeastern
Cevin Clark (5'11''-PG) of Southwestern, KS
Kaleb Lowery (6'8''-F) of Master's
Reid Jolly (6'5''-G/F) of Thomas More

Second Team
Drew Wyman (6'5''-G) of Idaho Coll.
Jacob Vis (6'7''-F) of Dordt
Phillip Malatare (6'0''-PG) of E.Oregon
Josh Pritchett (6'4''-G) of Evangel
Elijah Malone (6'9''-C) of Grace
Rog Stein (6'6''-F) of Indiana Tech
Cashemin Williams (6'3''-G) of William Jessup
Jalen Galloway (6'7''-F) of Loyola, LA
Tyler Schmidt (6'4''-G) of ONU
Cameron Copeland (6'0''-PG) of Tougaloo
Markelle Turner (6'2''-G) of Union, KY
Malik Edwards (6'2''-G) of William Penn

Third Team
Michael Hayes (6'4''-G) of Antelope Valley
Paul Hayden (6'5''-G) of ACU
Jalen Patterson (5'10''-PG) of Baker
Tony Burks (6'2''-G) of Columbia, MO
Alex Littlejohn (6'6''-F) of Ks Wesleyan
Mark Mettie (6'10''-C) of Madonna
Thomas Gieske (6'3''-G) of Mayville St.
Josiah De La Cerda (6'8''-F) of OUAZ
Teddy Parham Jr. (6'2''-G) of Pikeville
Jaeden King (6'6''-G) of St.Xavier
Samkelo Cele (6'6''-G-1997) of USAO
Kobe Powell (5'9''-PG) of A&M Texarkana

Honorable Mention
Bryce Davis (6'7''-F-2000) of ACU
Solomon Clayton (6'7''-F) of Bethany, KS
Drew Lutz (6'1''-G-2000) of Bethel, IN
Clifford Byrd II (6'1''-G) of Bethel, KS
James Jordan (6'6''-G) of CMU
Noah Schutte (6'4''-F) of CUNE
Jordan Stephens (6'3''-G) of Cumberland
Bryce Coppock (5'11''-PG) of Dordt
Trace Hill (6'4''-G) of Faulkner
Cam Brooks-Harris (6'7''-F) of Georgetown, KY
Tommy Snyder (6'6''-F) of Holy Cross Coll.
Seth Maxwell (7'0''-C) of IWU
Henry Shannon III (6'7''-F) of Iowa Wesleyan
Dejon Barney (6'9''-F) of IU S.Bend
Donyell Meredith II (6'4''-G) of IU S.Bend
Myles Corey (6'0''-PG) of William Jessup
Joey Holifield (6'1''-G) of Lourdes
Anthony Brown (6'5''-G) of MNU
Brendon Hardy (6'4''-G) of MBU
Ezra McKenna (6'8''-F) of Mobile, AL
Jesse Keltner (6'6''-F) of MSU-Northern
Ely Doble (6'6''-C) of Morningside
Joey Skoff (6'3''-G) of Morningside
Craig Sterk (6'7''-F) of Northwestern, IA
Dillon Carlson (6'2''-G) of Northwestern, IA
Kaleb Stokes (6'6''-F) of OKWU
Keshawn Bruner (6'2''-G) of OUAZ
Jibril Harris (6'8''-F) of Peru St.
Joquarius Valrie (6'5''-F) of Point Park
Marcus Stephens (6'3''-G) of Providence, MT
Shiloah Blevins (6'5''-F) of Rio Grande
Cortland Blake (6'6''-F) of SAGU
Atmar Mundu (6'0''-PG) of S.Oregon
Milton Matthews III (6'3''-G) of St.Thomas, FL
Fred Mulbah (5'8''-PG) of St.Thomas, FL
Jason Hubbard (6'7''-F) of Taylor
Traylynn Spencer (6'8''-F-1999) of A&M Texarkana
Jordan Booker (5'9''-PG) of Thomas Univ.
Terrin Hamilton (6'6''-G) of Union, KY
Jules Moor (6'6''-F) of UNT Dallas
Garrett White (6'4''-F-2000) of Vanguard
Mohamed Bundu (6'6''-F) of WAU
Tedrick Wolfe (6'5''-G/F-1997) of WBU
K'Shun Stokes (6'2''-G) of Webber
Xavier Reaves (6'6''-F-1999) of Xavier, LA