Box Score
CALDWELL, Idaho – Demetrius Perkins scored a game-high 23 points and The College of Idaho used a 13-0 second half run to break open a tight game, as the Coyotes stopped Northwest Nazarene, 93-83, in the United Heritage Insurance Mayors' Cup.
The victory for the Yotes (3-2) ended a seven-game losing streak (including four exhibition losses) to their Canyon County rivals in the 193rd meeting of Idaho's Oldest Collegiate Basketball Rivalry.
Leading 51-46 at the break, the Coyotes watched as NNU chipped away at the advantage, cutting the gap to 62-61on a Kevin Rima free throw with 11:59 to play. However, the hosts, in front of a capacity crowd, got a Josh Wilson lay-up and free throw, a pair of Perkins freebies, and a four-point play from Taylor Pruett to extend the margin to 71-61. Sydney Donaldson added a three-point play and Perkins converted a free throw to cap the four minute scoring surge.
The C of I hit 49-percent of their field goal attempts and won despite making just 2-of-11 three-point tries in the second half. The Yotes held a 38-35 edge in rebounds, including five offensive boards in the decisive run.
The Coyotes jumped out of the gates, as Perkins scored seven of the first 13 C of I points, as the hosts grabbed a 13-7 lead, extending it to 27-16 on a Zach Peterson lay-up midway through the opening half. The Crusaders, playing the game as an exhibition, got seven Josh Amey points in a 9-0 run to get NNU back in the game, tying the game at 36-36 on a John Van Beuren tip-in – one of two ties in the game.
Pruett had 21 points and four steals for the Yotes, with Wilson scoring 11 of his 13 points in the second half. Donaldson, in his first game action of the season, had 11 points and five rebounds, while Peterson had five points, a team-high eight rebounds, and four assists.
Rima led NNU with 22 points and six rebounds before fouling out late. Grayson Moore tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, with Amey scoring 10.
The Yotes return to action on Saturday, hosting Point Loma Nazarene at 9 p.m.
