Box Score Caldwell, Idaho – The (RV) Friends University Falcons fought and clawed until the final buzzer sounded on their 2024-25 season in a 75-65 loss to the No. 1-ranked College of Idaho Yotes in NAIA Second Round action tonight (Mar. 15) in Caldwell, Idaho.
The Falcons end their best season in 11 years at 24-8 overall. Meanwhile, the Yotes move on to the NAIA Round of 16 and will face fourth-seeded Langston University on Mar. 20 in Kansas City, Mo.
Tough Hole to Overcome: The top-ranked College of Idaho Yotes are likely the last team in the country you want to have to overcome a big deficit against, but that's precisely what the Falcons faced for much of the night. The Falcons led early 5-3 and still trailed just 11-9 when the Yotes made a run behind threes from Drew Wyman and Samaje Morgan to score eight straight to lead by double-figures at the 13:03 mark of the first half. A flurry of five straight points from Randy Woolf, Jr. helped the Falcons hang close for a bit, but the Yotes held the Falcons scoreless for the final 4:55 and scored the final 10 points of the opening half to take full control and lead 41-22 at the break. The Yotes were never seriously threatened in the second half.
Fight till the End: Even though the Falcons never got close enough after halftime to seriously contend for the win, they continued fighting until the final whistle. Down by as many as 23 in the second half, the Falcons didn't let their 2024-25 season end without one final push and scored 11 straight points to come within 12 before eventually clawing within single digits at 72-63 on two free throws by Will Mays with 29 seconds left. Quite a testament to the program and culture second-year head coach Phil McClintock has already implemented.
Defensive Prowess: The Yotes entered the game as the NAIA's second-ranked field-goal percentage defense, and they lived up to that billing, particularly at the three-point line. The Falcons managed to hit just 4-of-21 from beyond the arc, tied for their second-fewest three-point makes this season.
First Time for Everything: The Falcons lost for the first time in 20 games this season when leading in rebounding as they outrebounded the Yotes 35-33 tonight.
Hate to See it End: The 2024-25 season may have come to a close, but the accomplishments will live on forever. This season saw the Falcons record their most wins (24) in six years, win an NAIA Postseason game for the first time since 2013-14 and finish second in the KCAC after being picked ninth and 10th in the preseason polls.
Falcons' Top Performers
Randy Woolf, Jr. – 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals
KJ Spiller – 14 points, five rebounds
Collin Maclin – 13 points, three assists
Ring Deng – Seven rebounds, three assists
Yotes' Top Performers
Johnny Radford – 17 points
Tyler Robinett – 15 points, two blocks
Samaje Morgan – 12 points, seven assists
Drew Wyman – 10 points
Straton Rogers – Eight rebounds, four assists, three steals
