KIRKLAND, Wash. - A 26-9 run over a 10 minute stretch of the second half helped The College of Idaho record their first road win against a ranked team in four seasons, as the Coyotes upset No. 15 Northwest University, 84-72.
Box Score
The victory for the Yotes (12-11, 8-5 CCC) moved the squad into a tie for fourth in the Cascade Conference standings and pushed the club above the .500 mark for the season - the first time since January 2009 that the team had been above .500 this late in the season. It marked the first road win against a Top-25 team since beating Westminster during the 2009-10 season and lowered the Yotes Magic Number to one to clinch a postseason berth for the 16th-straight year.
Ben Van Lith,
Taylor Pruett, and
Curtis Brever each hit three-pointers in a 13-3 first half run to give the Yotes a 35-28 lead, with The C of I leading 40-39 at the break.
The Eagles (19-6, 9-4) sprinted out of the gates in the second half, as Michael Greene had a pair of lay-ups in a 9-0 run to give NU a 52-42 lead - with the hosts leading 57-47 with 14 minutes to play.
The C of I would respond, as the Coyotes rattled off 10-straight points, including a trey from Van Lith to tie the score at 57-57. After Greene put NU up 62-57 with a lay-in, the Yotes took the lead for good on an
Antonio Garrett put-back, part of a 10-2 run.
The Yotes iced the game by making 11-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes and connected on 21-of-25 free throws in the victory.
Pruett led four players in double-figures with 18 points, with Van Lith and
Miguel Rodriguez each scoring 15, and Garrett adding 14.. The Yotes made 56-percent of their second half field goals and outscored the Eagles 29-8 off turnovers.
Greene led all scorers with 32 points and seven rebounds, with Ryan McIntosh and Michael Russo each scoring 11. NU connected on nine three-point baskets, but committed 18 turnovers.
The Yotes close out their home schedule next weekend with games against Northwest Christian and Corban.
