CALDWELL, Idaho – Sydney Donaldson drilled three of his game-high four three-pointers in overtime, as the College of Idaho outlasted Westminster College, 80-68, in front of a full crowd inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Marko Kovacevic took a pass from Donaldson and gave the Yotes (8-0) a 59-57 lead with 43-seconds remaining in regulation. However, Jordan Pryor answered for Westminster, hitting a go-ahead three with 27-seconds left. After a Coyote turnover, Kevin Woodard hit a pair of free throws to extend the Griffins (0-5) lead to 62-59, setting up a dramatic finish.
With 10 seconds left, Josh Wilson rushed the ball up the floor, dished the rock to Donaldson, who skipped a pass to Demetrius Perkins in the left corner. Perkins took two dribbles to his right and heaved up an off-balance, desperation 22-footer, banking in the prayer to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Donaldson took over, hitting back-to-back three-pointers, part of a 12-point run to open the period. C of I hit a perfect 5-of-5 field goals in the extra session, including four three-pointers, outscoring the No. 15 ranked team in the NAIA Division I 18-6.
"Phenomenal job of Sydney stepping up and knocking down shots," head coach Scott Garson said. "All those shots were a result of excellent ball movement and passing, which is something we had been doing a better job of in previous games."
Wilson scored 20 points on the night, including a steal and basket with 4:23 left in regulation to give the Yotes a 57-50 advantage, but the Griffins would come storming back, going on a 12-2 run before the Perkins heave at the buzzer.
Kovacevic recorded his first double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 12 of C of I's 42 rebounds on the night, out-numbering Westminster on the boards by nine.
Woodard scored a team-high 19-points for the Griffins, including three steals in the loss. Quincy Bair added 15 ponits, as the visitors lost despite shooting 50-percent from the field.
As a team, C of I forced 16 steals, including six from Wilson and another five from Joey Nebeker. The Yotes also blocked 10 shots on the night, including a career-high five blocks from Donaldson.
The 8-0 record ties the 1995-96 Coyote squad, which went on to win the NAIA Division II national championship, as the best start in program history. C of I also extended their home winning streak to 21 games as Garson remained unbeaten inside the state of Idaho.
"Our home crowd was fantastic; they gave us a huge lift in the second half and through overtime in tonight's game," Garson added. "It makes really tough for teams to come in and play in this environment. We love being in Caldwell."
The Coyotes will close out the weekend home stand tomorrow night against Montana State-Northern, an 80-68 victor over Northwest Nazarene in tonight's early game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
