CALDWELL, Idaho –
Aitor Zubizarreta drained a runner in the lane with 35 seconds left to give the College of Idaho a lead they would not relinquish, as the Yotes opened Cascade Conference play with a 72-69 win over Eastern Oregon.
Box Score The No. 20 ranked Coyotes (6-4, 1-0 CCC) squandered double-digit leads in each half, withstanding a huge performance from EOU's Kentrell Washington, to earn the victory.
Joey Nebeker scored 10-straight points, part of a 26-point night, in an 18-5 run to open the second half, helping C of I build their largest lead of the night at 48-35 with 13 minutes remaining. However, Nebeker picked up his fourth foul with 12 minutes left and Eastern (4-7, 0-1) answering with an 11-2 run, with a Washington basket getting the Mounties within 50-46.
EOU would get even at 62-62 on a fall-away jumper from Case Rada and take their first lead of the second half at 66-65 on a Washington fade-away bucket with 1:19 left.
Emanuel Morgan would make two free throws to give C of I the edge, but Washington made two freebies on the other end to give Eastern their final lead.
Following Zubizarreta's go-ahead bucket, the Yotes forced a Washington miss – with Zubizarreta getting fouled on the rebound, making 1-of-2 free throws to give C of I a 70-68. EOU worked the ball into Brandon Hoston, who was fouled with three seconds left, but split the pair of free throws. Washington got the offensive board, his 19th rebound of the night, but missed the put back – and Morgan made two free throws to ice the victory.
Zubizarreta finished with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, with Morgan logging his second-straight double-double – tying a career-high with 14 points and recording a career-high 10 rebounds.
Washington led EOU with 17 points – recording his 11th double-double of the season, but also committed nine of the Mounties 22 turnovers. Rada and Tate De Laveaga each had 16 points in the loss.
C of I returns to action Sunday, putting their 19-game home CCC win streak on the line against Walla Walla at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Boise (96.5-FM, 730-AM).
