LA GRANDE, Ore. - Josh Wilson had 18 points and flirted with a triple-double as the seventh ranked College of Idaho opened their 2014-15 season with a 89-71 win over Walla Walla University in the first game of the 2014 Aramark Quinn Classic hosted by Eastern Oregon University.
Tied at 25 with 5:15 left in the first half, Jordan O'Byrne drilled a three to start a 19-8 run to close the period and grab control of the game.Â
Wilson scored a team-high 18 points with eight assists, seven boards, four steals, and one block. O'Byrne came off the bench to hit a team-high four three-pointers to go with his 16 points and six rebounds.Â
Led by a game-high 20 points from Luke Spady, the Wolves (0-3) hung around early but shot 31-percent in the second half, including 14-percent from behind the arc to fall into a hole they were unable to dig out of.
University of Utah transfer Marko Kovacevic hit a jumper with 5:05 left in the game to give the Coyotes their largest lead of the game at 83-56. Against C of I reserves, Walla Walla would cut the deficit to 16 in the final minute.
Boise State transfer Joey Nebeker scored 12 points in his C of I debut, hitting 5-of-10 shots from the field with five boards and two blocks. Joe Vaz was a perfect 6-of-6 on the night from the field for 13 points in 10 minutes of action.
C of I will close out the Quinn Classic tomorrow afternoon against Portland Bible.
