Box Score
CALDWELL, Idaho – Back-to-back Sydney Donaldson lay-ups inside the final three minutes gave The College of Idaho a lead it would not relinquish, as the Coyotes withstood an upset bid from Corban University, winning 76-71, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The No. 21 ranked Coyotes (15-5, 6-2 CCC) moved into sole possession of first-place in the Cascade Conference with the victory – needing a 9-1 run over the final 180 seconds to hold off the Warriors. The hosts improved to 8-0 at home this season – their longest home win streak since 2004.
C of I seemingly had the game in hand, as two consecutive Ben Van Lith baskets gave the Yotes a 62-51 lead with 12 minutes remaining. The Warriors (6-11, 2-6) cranked up the defensive pressure, limiting the Coyotes to just two made field goals over the next nine minutes – using a 19-5 run to take a 70-67 lead on a Jordan Carter jumper with 3:11 to play.
Taylor Pruett answered, canning a long three-pointer, the 11th trey of the night for C of I, to tie the score. After Carter missed a pair of free throws, Donaldson gave the Yotes the lead with a tough basket on the block, then after a Warriors miss, the junior drained a short jumper to extend the lead to 74-70. Carter split a pair of free throws to get the visitors within three, but a huge Demetrius Perkins block and rebound in the final minute stopped a Warriors possession, with Perkins hitting two free throws to cap the win.
Jordan O'Byrne led C of I with 15 points, with Van Lith and Pruett each scoring 12, and Donaldson adding 10. The Yotes committed just seven turnovers in the victory, while recording 25 assists on 30 made field goals.
Corban lost despite making 55-percent of their field goal attempts, as Toby Roth led the Warriors with 18 points and Carter had 17 points and six rebounds. However, the visitors made just 9-of-17 free throw attempts on the night.
C of I returns to action tomorrow, hosting Northwest Christian at 7:30 p.m.
