CALDWELL, Idaho – The looks were good early for Southern Oregon but the margin for error was gone when they didn't fall against No. 4-ranked College of Idaho in a 75-61 loss on Friday night at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.

Straton Rogers scored 12 points on a 5-of-6 effort for the Yotes (6-1) in the first half, where the Raiders (5-2) dug themselves a 35-24 hole by shooting 29%. Dougie Peoples scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the second as C of I went up by as many as 24 points.

The game was the Cascade Conference opener for both teams, as well as the Yotes' 52nd win in their last 53 CCC outings dating back to 2022. Winners of the last four full-season titles, they committed only three turnovers all night while hitting at 48% as a team despite a scoreless 0-of-11 performance from point guard Samaje Morgan, the reigning CCC Player of the Year.

Jack Chlumak and Gabe Reichle led the Raiders with 11 points apiece, both off the bench. SOU's reserves contributed 39 points, but its starters combined to go 8-of-30. Reichle shot 3-of-4 from 3-point range and Jacob Axmaker hit 2-of-3 downtown.

The Raiders were down just four points after a Bryce Dyer bucket at the six-minute mark of the first half before C of I made a 16-2 push over the next five minutes.

SOU will attempt to salvage the trip Saturday at Eastern Oregon, tipping off at 5 p.m. The Mountaineers lost their CCC opener to Oregon Tech, 85-81, as the Owls scored eight unanswered over the final minute.