Box Score
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Michael Russo scored five of his game-high 22 points in a decisive 12-2 second half run, as Northwest University defeated The College of Idaho, 83-77, inside the NU Pavilion.
Trailing 56-50 with 12:24 to play, Russo canned a three-pointer to fuel the comeback, as the Eagles (9-2, 1-0 CCC) held off the Yotes for the Cascade Conference win.
NU jumped out to a 26-17 lead at the 11-minute mark of the first half, but the No. 20 ranked Coyotes (9-4, 0-1) used a 15-4 run – including a three-point play and a tip-in from Ben Van Lith to take a 32-30 lead.
The hosts led 42-36 at the break, but C of I scored eight-straight points early in the second half to take their largest lead at six, before NU responded. Russo and Brett Skogstad hit treys to tie the score, with a Michael Greene jumper giving the Eagles the lead for good.
The margin grew to 72-62, before the Yotes made a final push – cutting the lead to four on four occasions, but could not get closer.
Russo was 9-of-13 from the field and added seven rebounds in the win. Ryan McIntosh had 20 points and seven rebounds, with Nemanja Grujicic scoring 14 – as NU hit 56-percent of their second half field goals.
Demetrius Perkins led C of I with 19 points, with Sydney Donaldson adding 18 points and Van Lith adding 11 points off the bench. The Yotes lost despite hitting 21-of-25 free throws.
C of I closes out the road trip with a Saturday match-up with Evergreen at 7:30 p.m.
