PORTLAND, Ore. – Joe Vaz led four players in double figures with 19 points and the College of Idaho used a stellar defensive performance to topple Concordia University, 78-65, in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Game of the Week inside Cavalier Gym.
The No. 3 ranked Coyotes (21-3, 10-2 CCC) held the hosts to just 29-percent shooting from the field in the victory – with the No. 11 ranked Cavaliers making just 9-of-35 shots in the second half - clinching their 18th-straight berth into the Cascade Conference post-season tournament.
Jordan O'Byrne got the Yotes off on the right foot midway through the first half; canning a jumper and a corner trey, part of a 12-4 run to give C of I a 22-13 lead with just over eight minutes left in the period. CU countered, as Tyler Velasquez scored seven points in a 15-4 surge that gave the Cavs (18-4, 8-3) the lead at 28-26 – with the two squads settling for a 33-33 deadlock at the break.
The teams see-sawed through the first 10 minutes of the second stanza – with an Esvan Middleton basket at the 16 minute mark giving CU a 42-39 lead. Leading 51-50, the Cavs watched as Demetrius Perkins splashed a 3-pointer, with Josh Wilson basket, followed by a 3-point play, giving the Yotes a 58-51 lead with 9:32 remaining.
C of I would win the game at the foul line, converting 11-of-13 free throws down the stretch, as the Yotes won for the eighth-straight time – taking a full-game lead in the CCC standings.
Vaz, who did not play in the first meeting between the teams, made 7-of-9 field goals, while adding a team-high nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Wilson had 18 points and eight rebounds; Perkins had 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists; with Marko Kovacevic scoring 10 points in just 14 minutes due to foul trouble.
Velasquez led the Cavs with 25 points, with Thomas Pierce logging 13 points and Middleton recording a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. CU hung around thanks to 20 offensive rebounds and 20 made free throws.
The road for the Yotes does not get easier, as C of I travels tomorrow night to No. 20 Warner Pacific for a 7:30 p.m. (PT) tipoff.
