IRVINE, Calif. – Lucas Simpson scored nine of his 15 points in a game-changing 17-3 second half run, as Concordia University ended the College of Idaho's season-opening 11-game win streak, stopping the Coyotes, 79-69, inside CU Arena.
The Eagles (6-1) trailed 30-29 at the break, with a Josh Wilson steal and basket to start the second half giving C of I their largest lead of the period. Simpson answered with back-to-back baskets to give CUI the lead, with his three-point play extending the lead to 42-35.
Trailing by as many as 11, the Coyotes (11-1) closed the margin to 50-46 on a Jordan O'Byrne triple at the midway point of the period. C of I was within 55-50, but Stephen Grosey hit a pair of free throws, Mike Scott had an inside basket, and Grosey canned a long trey to give the hosts a 12-point lead with six minutes left.
The two teams traded leads in the opening 20 minutes, as CUI grabbed an early 9-4 lead, but the Yotes whittled away at the margin, taking their first lead of the night at 14-13 – with the teams combining for five ties and seven lead changes in the first half.
Scott led the Eagles with 18 points, with Grosey recording a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. CUI made 58-percent of their second half field goals and scored 26 points of 22 C of I turnovers.
O'Byrne tied a season-high with 24 points, draining a career-high six three-pointers. Marko Kovacevic had 13 points and eight rebounds, with Sydney Donaldson scoring 10.
C of I ends the non-conference season with eight wins against either NAIA Division I or NCAA Division II competition – including four victories over teams that played in their respective 2014 national tournaments.
The Yotes open up defense of their Cascade Conference title on Friday night, hosting Northwest University on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
