EUGENE, Ore. – Using a commanding 57-29 edge on the glass, Northwest Christian went wire-to-wire to defeat the College of Idaho, 89-76, inside Morse Events Center.
Box Score The Beacons (8-4, 2-1 CCC) won for the first time against the Yotes since 2011, jumping out to a quick 16-6 first half lead and withstanding a late C of I rally, improving to 4-0 at home this season.
Austin Kuemper scored 20 points and added 15 rebounds to lead NCU, with Omar Richards adding 15 points and nine boards, including seven-straight points in a 9-0 first half run that gave the hosts a 38-20 lead.
The No. 18 Yotes (7-5, 2-1) cut the deficit to 46-37 on an
Aitor Zubizarreta 3-pointer early in the second half, only to see Jack Hackman can back-to-back triples and Kenny Blackwell and Javonte Byrd add baskets, as NCU built their largest lead of the night at 66-44 with 13 minutes remaining.
C of I methodically cut into the lead on the strength of eight second half 3-pointers, getting within 81-73 with three minutes remaining – but could not get closer.
Hackman scored 17 in the win for the Beacons, including five 3-point baskets, with Blackwell scoring 12 points, adding 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Emanuel Morgan led the Yotes with 20 points and five assists; Zubizarreta adding 15 points and
Dominique Jordan scoring 14. Leading scorer,
Joey Nebeker, was limited to just four points and six rebounds in the loss.
The Yotes return to action tomorrow with a road date at Corban with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. (PT)
