CALDWELL, Idaho – The Mayors' Cup returns to Garret Nancolas' office – as
Joey Nebeker scored 21 points, helping the College of Idaho topple Northwest Nazarene, 75-71, before a capacity crowd of 2,422 fans in the 200th meeting of the Canyon County rivals.
The Yotes (5-3) regained the United Heritage Insurance Mayors' Cup – rebounding from a 34-30 halftime decifit, using a 13-2 run – keyed by a pair of Nebeker dunks to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.
NNU, which played the game as an exhibition, cut the margin to 61-59 on two Bouna N'Diaye free throws, but back-to-back treys from
Dominique Jordan helped C of I push the lead to 73-64 and hung on for the win.
Jordan had 13 points and six rebounds, with
Emanuel Morgan logging 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Yotes. Nebeker added seven rebounds, four steals and three blocksin the win.
Detwon Rogers had a game-high 23 points, including two early triples, as the Crusaders jumped to a 9-4 lead, only to watch a 17-3 C of I run give the Yotes their largest edge of the opening half at 21-12. NNU didn't fold, getting two triples from Nikola Prvulj in a 12-2 run to end the half, giving the Crusaders the four-point cushion at the break.
Mike Wright had 16 points and Joel Devastey had 12 in the loss, as NNU made 10-of-33 shots from outside the arc.
Both teams return to action this weekend, NNU hosting Eastern Oregon on Friday at 7 p.m., with the Yotes hosting Lewis-Clark State Saturday at 3 p.m.
NOTES - It was C of I's third-straight win over their rivals in Caldwell;
Jalyn Turner scored all eight of his points in the second half;
Aitor Zubizarreta, C of I's leading rebounder on the season, had a game-high eight boards; after struggling from the floor in the first half, the Yotes made 55-percent of their field goals after halftime, including 4-of-9 3-point attempts.
