Matching a record that has stood for 26 years, the No. 1 Snow College men's basketball team finished the 2024-25 season with a 29-1 overall record after defeating the College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College over the weekend. This ties the record for most wins in a season, which was set during the 1998-99 season.
 
The Badgers entered the game following a pair of victories against Colorado Northwestern Community College (94-71) and Salt Lake Community College (84-70). Snow College came into play looking to go undefeated in conference play since going 10-0 during the 1976-77 season.
 
The Badgers came out firing on all cylinders against the Golden Eagles. A 3-pointer from Isaac Finlinson (So./St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) capped a 9-0 run to start the game. CSI didn't record its first points until nearly four minutes had elapsed, and the Badgers found themselves leading 16-5 with 15 minutes left in the first half.
 
An 8-0 run from CSI over the next few minutes trimmed the lead to three. The Badgers kept the Golden Eagles at bay over the final ten minutes of the first half. A jumper from Kyle Lemke (Fr./St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) and a layup from Finlinson gave the Badgers a 41-35 lead heading into the break.
 
Snow College scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half to push the lead back to double figures. After CSI made a free throw and a jumper to get back within nine, the Badgers used an 11-4 run to take a 60-44 lead midway through the second half.
 
The lead would not dip below double figures again as a 3-pointer from McCaden Adams (Fr./Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS) gave the Badgers a 19-point lead. They were able to salt away the remaining minutes and earn an 85-63 victory.
 
Isaac Garrett (So./Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS) led the Badgers offensively with 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Finlinson finished with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Adams had 11 points while Mark Brown Jr. (So./South Phoenix, Arizona/Bella Vista Prep) tallied 10 points and dished four assists.
 
The Badgers turned around and hosted NIC for their final game of the regular season. Once again, Snow College got off to a good start, scoring 10 of the first 12 and 18 of the first 23 points to take an 18-5 lead just five minutes into the action.
 
Over the next three minutes, the Cardinals whittled the lead down to six with just over 12 minutes to play in the first half. Five straight points from Coleman Ford (So./Provo, Utah/Timpview HS) preceded a layup from Finlinson and the Badgers led 27-16 midway through the opening frame.
 
NIC punched back and went on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to get back within three points. Snow College responded and took a 38-29 lead with under two minutes to play. The Cardinals scored the final seven points of the half to cut the Badgers' lead to just 38-36 at halftime.
 
The first few minutes of the second half teeter-tottered before a 3-pointer from Adams extended the Snow College lead to 11. A few minutes later, back-to-back triples gave the Badgers a 14-point advantage – their largest of the game.
 
The Cardinals would not go away and erased the deficit completely over the next four minutes. They used a 15-0 run to take a 61-60 lead with under eight minutes to play. The Badgers offense came alive as Finlinson and Chance Trujillo (Fr./Kaysville, Utah/Davis HS) hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give the Badgers a 68-65 lead with 3:35 to play.
 
A critical 6-0 run saw the Badgers take a 74-67 lead with just over 90 seconds to play. after two NIC free throws, Brown Jr. laced a 3-pointer, which electrified the home faithful, and Snow College led 77-69. Finlinson iced the game at the free-throw line as the Badgers held on to the 78-71 victory.
 
Finlinson led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed four rebounds. Ford finished with 13 points, while Trujillo put in 11. Brown Jr. added 10 points and five assists in the victory.
 
With the win, the Badgers finished with a 15-0 record within their Scenic West Athletic Conference schedule. This is the first time ever Snow College has gone undefeated in SWAC play.
 
Snow College will now turn its attention to the postseason in the form of the Region 18 Tournament. The Badgers will host fourth-seeded SLCC in the first round of the four-team tournament. Should the Badgers win, they will face the winner of NIC and CSI in the 2/3 matchup. CSI, as the two seed, will face three-seeded NIC at 5:00 p.m. Friday. The Badgers game against the Bruins will follow at 7:30 p.m. inside the Horne Activities Center.
 
To purchase tickets to the tournament, visit snowbadgers.com. Exclusive video coverage of all three games of the tournament will also be provided by the SWAC Digital Network and can be found at scenicwestnetwork.com.