LC State Men Upset Defending Champs to Reach CCC Title Game

Warriors rally after injury to clinch spot in conference championship

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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No. 23 LC State Men's Basketball stunned defending national champion College of Idaho in the Cascade Conference semifinal, rallying after an early injury to win 74-62 and advance to the CCC title game. John Lustig and Dylan Skaife each scored 21 points, while Grayson Hunt grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds with 3 blocks. The Warriors outscored the Yotes 47-36 in the second half to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win over the defending champions puts LC State in position to claim their first Cascade Conference title, a major accomplishment for the program. The Warriors showed resilience in the face of adversity, rallying around an injured teammate to pull off the upset and earn a spot in the championship game.

The details

After falling behind 11-2 early, LC State chipped away at the deficit and took a 27-26 lead into halftime. The Warriors then opened the second half on a 5-0 run, but the Yotes cut the lead to 3 points. That's when the game turned, as an injury to a C of I player seemed to galvanize LC State. The Warriors then went on a 13-0 run, with Skaife hitting three 3-pointers and Childs adding another, to build a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. LC State shot 50% in the second half and held the Yotes to just 38.6% shooting for the game.

  • LC State took a 27-26 lead into halftime.
  • The Warriors opened the second half on a 5-0 run to go up 31-26.
  • After the C of I injury, LC State went on a 13-0 run to build a double-digit lead.

The players

John Lustig

Scored 21 points and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds for LC State.

Dylan Skaife

Also scored 21 points for the Warriors, including four 3-pointers.

Grayson Hunt

Grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and blocked 3 shots for LC State.

Brandon Suber

Dished out 6 assists to help create 16 points for the Warriors.

Elijah Kersey

An LC State player who suffered an injury early in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“Super proud of our guys and the way they responded throughout the game. Our hearts go out to Elijah (Kersey) with his tough injury as he's such a big part of this program. Our guys rallied around him and certainly played with an edge for him down the stretch.”

— Austin Johnson, Head Coach (dailyfly.com)

“Skaife hit some big shots; John was elite and Suber did a great job of getting downhill. Grayson was incredible on the glass securing rebounds and playing winning basketball. We need to rest and recover and be prepared for another battle on Tuesday against a high-level Corban team.”

— Austin Johnson, Head Coach (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

LC State will face off with seventh-seeded Corban (Ore.) in the title game of the CCC tournament on Tuesday at home. Tipoff in the P1FCU Activity Center is set for 7 p.m.

The takeaway

This gutsy win over the defending national champions shows the resilience and determination of the LC State men's basketball team. Despite an early injury, the Warriors rallied together to pull off the upset and earn a spot in the conference title game, proving they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the Cascade Conference.