Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Indiana Tech men's basketball program had a remarkable 2022/23 season that looked like a movie script, but the Warriors' happy ending turned into a dramatic culmination. Indiana Tech fell to The College of Idaho 73-71 at Municipal Auditorium on Saturday night in a game deserving of the NAIA National Championship Final.
 
In a game that looked like a replay from the semifinal against Georgetown College, Indiana Tech had to, once again, work to catch up to an advantage built by the opponent in the first minutes of the game. The Coyotes from Idaho started the game with a 19-4 run, and the score difference that reached 21 points in the first half was 19 points at halftime with 45-26 on the scoreboard.
 
The disadvantage that started the 2^nd half at 19 points reached 23 points, but the Warriors would climb that 23-point mountain patiently. Step by step. Point by point. Led by Rog Stein (18 points and 8 rebounds), Blake Davidson (12 points and 5 rebounds), Josh Kline (11 points and 8 rebounds), and Max Perez (12 points and 3 rebounds), the Warriors had a 10-2 run at the beginning of the second half and a 12-2 run at the end of the 2^nd half that cut the Coyotes advantage to 2 points with 1 minute left on the clock.
 
The last minute of the game was a game apart. Loaded with drama and tension that could be felt in the air. The scoreboard was 70-68 to the College of Idaho when Drew Wyman added 2 points for the Coyotes with a layup. Kline answered the same way and made it a one-possession game again: 72-70. Wyman missed a shot with 0:24 on the clock and gave Indiana Tech a chance. Grant Smith was fouled with 12 seconds left and had 2 free throws to tie the game, but he scored just one. The Warriors made a quick foul on Wyman, who missed one of his free throws. With 10 seconds left on the clock and 73-71 on the score, the Warriors had the last shot to tie it and force overtime, or even try a 3-point shot and win the game. Unfortunately for Indiana Tech, Smith's shot with 1 second left did not meet the net.
 
The last scene of Indiana Tech's season may have tasted bitter for the Warriors, but overall, the season is worthy of applause. A team that represented the school with excellence and finished the season with the most wins in the program's history, a conference trophy, and an appearance in NAIA National Championship Final for the first time in school history.
 
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 – Indiana Tech
Jake Ohmer – Georgetown (Ky.)
Kyran Jones – Georgetown (Ky.)
Josiah De'laCerda – OUAZ (Ariz.)
Kloten Hitt – OUAZ (Ariz.)
Elijah Malone – Grace (Ind.)
Charles Stevenson Hustle Award – MVP of the Runner-Up
Grant Smith – Indiana Tech
Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player
Charles Elzie– College of Idaho
Charles A. Krigel Sportsmanship Award
Kyle Blankenship - LSU Shreveport (La.)
NAIA MBB Coach of the Year
Colby Blaine– College of Idaho