CALDWELL, Idaho –
Joey Nebeker scored a game-high 34 points helping the College of Idaho rally from an 8-point second half deficit to topple the Evergreen State College, 88-81, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Box Score Nebeker scored 10 of his points in a 17-5 second half rally that helped the Yotes (8-6, 3-2) erase a 66-58 ESC lead, handing C of I their 22nd-straight home Cascade Conference win.
The Geoducks (5-9, 2-4) led 35-34 at the break, but watched as the Yotes got a jumper and a 3-pointer from
Aitor Zubizarreta in a 9-0 C of I run to give the Yotes a 56-49 lead with 13 minutes remaining. Danny Powell responded for Evergreen, converting a lay-up and adding a 3-point play to start a 15-0 run over a four minute stretch.
Nebeker countered with a pair of free throws and a 3-point play to get C of I within 66-63, with a
Curtis Brever triple tying the game up. Trailing 71-70, Nebeker split a pair of free throws, but
Marck Coffin grabbed an offensive rebound, finding Nebeker for an NBA 3-pointer that gave the Yotes the lead for good.
C of I put the game away late, as a Nebeker driving lay-up and a 3-point play by Zubizarreta keyed a 7-0 run to extend the margin to 84-76.
Nebeker was 12-of-19 from the field, including three 3-pointers in the victory, adding six rebounds. It was the junior's fourth 30-point game of the season and his eighth-straight game with six or more rebounds.
Emanuel Morgan scored 16 points with seven rebounds – his seventh-straight game in double-figures – with Zubizarreta and Coffin each scoring 10.
Powell had a monster night in the loss for the Geoducks, scoring 30 points and grabbing a school-record 21 rebounds – including 12 offensive boards. Frankie Johnson scored 13 points and Brock Otis added 12, but ESC could not overcome 37-percent shooting and a woeful 8-of-37 mark from 3-point range.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Northwest at 7:30 p.m. The game will not be carried on local radio, with the game broadcast live online at YoteAthletics.com.
