CALDWELL, Idaho - David Clarke scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, helping defending NAIA Division II national champion Oregon Tech hold off a College of Idaho rally, defeating the Yotes, 68-62, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Box Score
Clarke hit four second half three pointers, including a pair in an early second half stretch that helped the Owls (12-11, 3-8 CCC) build a 39-31 lead. The Yotes would respond, as
Taylor Pruett canned a three and a baseline jumper, part of a seven point C of I surge, to cut the margin to 39-38.
Clarke would hit a long three and a free throw line jumper with six minutes to play to give OIT a 57-50 lead, but the Yotes (10-11, 6-5) would have one more surge, as an offensive rebound and put-back by
Ben Van Lith got The C of I within 58-56. The Coyotes would have four cracks at tying the game with open three-point looks in the final two minutes, but could not find the net - as Tech sealed the victory by making 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute.
Mihajlo Matic had 13 points in the win, including 3-of-4 shooting from outside the arc, with Alex Zerbach coming off the bench to tally 12. Kyle Waits added 12 rebounds for OIT - part of a commanding 40-29 edge on the glass.
Pruett had a season-high 24 points for the Yotes, with
Rodney Delgardo,
Antonio Garrett, and Van Lith each scoring eight. The Yotes lost despite forcing 21 turnovers.
The C of I returns to action next weekend with road games at Evergreen and Northwest.
