CALDWELL, Idaho – The Bushnell men's basketball season came to a close on Tuesday with an 87-70 loss to The College of Idaho in the quarterfinals of the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament.
 
The Beacons put up another strong fight against the top-ranked team in the country as they kept the game within 20 points for the entire game against an opponent that won their regular-season conference games by an average of 27.   
 
Head Coach Eddie Alexander said, "We lost our momentum in the last five minutes of the first half and we struggled to get it back. We couldn't get over the hump in the second half, but the guys gave it their all."
 
The Beacons, playing as the No. 8 seed in the tournament, shot 40% in the game and matched the Yotes shot-for-shot from distance as each squad went 8-for-26 from three-point range.
 
Bushnell also went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line, all in the second half, which pushed their season average to exactly 80%. They go out with a new single-season school record and are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA.
 
Leading the way for the Beacons once again was junior Spencer Hoffman who secured his 12th double-double of the season with game-highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7-for-10 from the field. Alexis Angeles went 6-for-10 and scored 14 points while Stevie Schlabach added 12.
 
The Yotes (28-1) won their 28th-straight game behind 46% shooting and a 44-37 rebounding margin. They collected 22 offensive boards and held a 28-12 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Four players were in double-figures for C of I, led by Tyler Robinett with 17. The Yotes move onto the semifinal round of the conference tournament and will play host to No. 5-seed Corban University on Friday. No. 2 Eastern Oregon will host No. 3 Southern Oregon in the other semifinal game.
 
Bushnell closes out the season with a record of 12-17. "It is really hard when you lose your last game and the season comes to an end," said Alexander. "I am not ready to be done with this group. They fought hard for each other and truly cared for one another. I could not have been prouder of what these guys gave on the court each night. I will deeply miss our lone senior, Isaac Girley, and all that he gave to this team. He is a fighter and I believe he will have a very successful future."