DILLON, Mont. - Maazin Butler scored a game-high 17 points as the University of Montana Western spoiled The College of Idaho's men's basketball season opener, stopping the Coyotes, 72-52, inside Straugh Gymnasium.
Box Score
The Bulldogs (3-0) held the Yotes without a made field goal for a seven minute stretch of the first half, opening up a 20-point halftime lead, as the NAIA Division I program cruised to the victory.
A long three-pointer by Rodney Delgardo on the Yotes (0-1) first trip down floor gave the visitors their lone lead of the night. A Bryden Benke put-back got The C of I within 9-7 early on, but a 9-2 run by Western extended the lead to 18-9. Gabe Rucker started the decisive run at the 12-minute mark with a trey, with Butler scoring four in the spurt, as the Bulldogs led 33-13 with six minutes left in the half - taking a 40-20 lead to the break.
Sydney Donaldson knocked home a three early in the second half to cut the margin to 17, but back-to-back three's from Kris Collins pushed the lead to 23, with Western leading by as many as 27 in the stanza.
Collins had 14 points and five steals in the victory, as Western made 10-of-20 three-point attempts and won despite 18 turnovers.
Donaldson was the lone C of I player in double figures with 10 points, with Ben Van Lith adding seven points and nine rebounds, and Antonio Garrett logging eight points and seven boards. The Yotes made just 32-percent of their field goal tries, and were a woeful 9-of-20 from the foul line.
The Coyotes return to action tomorrow afternoon, meeting Rocky Mountain at 2 p.m.
