CALDWELL, Idaho – A monster career-high double-double from
Joey Nebeker lifted the College of Idaho to a 110-81 victory over Northwest Indian College in the final game of the 29th Annual Taco Bell Shoot-Out inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The junior forward scored 32 points and added 13 rebounds as the Coyotes (3-0) won their own tournament for the third-straight year. C of I, however, will share the crown with Walla Walla University, as the Wolves upset No. 23 ranked Montana Western, 73-68, in tonight's early game.
Nebeker scored 17 of his points in the first nine minutes of the second half, as the Yotes methodically used a size advantage to pile up 54 points in the paint and outscore the Eagles (0-11) 27-5 in second chance points.
The Yotes used a 13-2 first half run to open a 50-30 lead, as Nebeker started the streak with a baseline jumper,
Marck Coffin added four points, and
Jalyn Turner scored six of his 11 points in the surge.
Early in the second half, Kacy Green hit a triple and a lay-up in an 8-0 NWIC rally that got the Eagles within 61-47, but six quick points by Coffin extended the lead to 20. Nebeker following with two triples, with
Curtis Brever and Turner each knocking down treys to push the margin to 89-58 with 10 minutes remaining – allowing the Yotes to empty the bench.
Coffin had a career-high 16 points, adding six rebounds and a team-high three steals.
Aitor Zubizarreta had 13 points and eight boards, with Turner adding nine rebounds on the night. All 12 C of I players scored, with the Coyotes holding a commanding 64-35 edge on the glass, including 30 offensive rebounds.
Austin Miller led the Eagles with 22 points, with Green adding 19 points and eight rebounds.
C of I returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to Nampa for Game 1 of the United Heritage Insurance Mayors' Cup Series at Northwest Nazarene. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
