Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. - Antonio Garrett tipped home the game winner with less than one second remaining, helping The College of Idaho clinch a share of their first Cascade Conference title since 2004, knocking off Northwest Christian, 74-72, inside the Morse Events Center.
The No. 6 ranked Coyotes (22-5, 13-2 CCC) survived a rocky start and a late NCU rally to extend their win streak to nine games - the longest since the 2000-01 season. C of I can clinch the CCC's automatic berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships with a win in their final three games, or a loss by Concordia in one of their final four contests.
The Beacons (14-11, 8-7) used a 10-2 run in the final three minutes to take a 72-70 lead on a Coleton Baker lay-up, but Garrett came up with a big offensive rebound on a missed three-pointer, with Zach Peterson getting fouled on a drive with 48 seconds remaining. Peterson hit both free throws to tie the score - and following a defensive stop - the Yotes put the ball in Josh Wilson's hands, with his runner in the lane rimming out, but Garrett tapped the ball through the cylinder with eight-tenths of a second remaining to give C of I the lead. Baker had a final chance at the horn, but could not connect on a 25-footer.
NCU jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead, extending the margin to 33-21 with six minutes remaining in the half. The Coyotes responded, closing the period on a 14-6 run to get within 39-35. C of I took their first lead of the game at 50-48 on an Emanuel Morgan lay-up, with back-to-back Peterson lay-ups and a Demetrius Perkins basket giving the Yotes a 68-60 lead with four minutes left. The Beacons would not quit, as three's from Spencer Coleman and Javonte Byrd, along with four Baker points, gave the hosts the lead inside the final two minutes - setting up the wild finish.
Perkins led the Yotes with 16 points, with Sydney Donaldson scoring 13, and Peterson adding 12. Garrett had eight points and 11 rebounds in the victory, as C of I won without leading scorer Taylor Pruett, who missed the game due to injury.
Baker led the Beacons with a game-high 24 points, with Austin Kuemper adding 15 points and 12 rebounds.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Corban.
