KIRKLAND, Wash. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant individual performance and a furious comeback that fell just short, the College of Idaho Coyotes held off the Northwest Eagles 73-70 in a men’s NAIA basketball game Saturday at Pavilion.

The contest turned on a spectacular scoring display from Northwest’s Logan Stempniak, who poured in 33 points to nearly single-handedly erase a large deficit, and a critical response from College of Idaho’s Chance Winter, who anchored his team’s defense with three blocks to secure the narrow victory.

The Coyotes, who improved to 7-4, appeared poised for a comfortable win after building a significant early advantage. They led 45-33 after a high-scoring first quarter. The Eagles, falling to 2-6, struggled to contain College of Idaho’s initial offensive push.

The narrative of the game shifted dramatically in the second quarter as Stempniak caught fire. The guard spearheaded a relentless Northwest rally, scoring from all levels to ignite the home crowd. His 3-point shooting was particularly potent, helping the Eagles chip away at the lead throughout the period. A Stempniak 3-pointer with just over four minutes remaining in the game gave Northwest its first lead since the opening minutes at 65-63, capping a massive comeback effort.

However, College of Idaho demonstrated resilience. With the game in the balance, Chance Winter emerged as the pivotal figure for the Coyotes. The top star, who finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks, made crucial plays on both ends of the floor. His defensive presence in the final minutes helped stifle the Eagles’ momentum after they had seized the lead.

Following Stempniak’s go-ahead 3-pointer, the Coyotes reclaimed control with a decisive 6-0 run. Rey Johnston converted a key layup and free throw, and Utrillo Morris added a layup to put College of Idaho back ahead 71-68 with just over a minute to play. Northwest’s CJ Bayak scored inside to cut the lead to one point, but the Eagles could not find a tying or winning basket in the final seconds against a tightened Coyote defense.

While Stempniak’s 33-point effort was the game’s standout statistical line, supported by Christian Watkins’ near triple-double of nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, it was not enough. College of Idaho countered with a more balanced attack. Alongside Winter’s 16, Conner Sheets provided a significant spark off the bench with 14 points, all in the first half, while Utrillo Morris added 12 points and five assists.

The victory allowed College of Idaho to bounce back from a loss in its previous Cascade Collegiate Conference outing and continue a positive stretch. The Eagles, despite the loss, showed fight in overcoming a large early hole behind Stempniak’s career performance.

College of Idaho next hosts Eastern Oregon on Dec. 30. Northwest travels to face Corban on Jan. 2.