OLYMPIA, Wash. – Jordan O'Byrne and Marko Kovacevic each scored 17 points as the No.3 College of Idaho stormed past Evergreen State College, 100-67, inside the Costantino Recreation Center.
A Kovacevic layup with just under six-minutes remaining in the opening period gave the Coyotes (25-4, 14-3) their largest lead of the first half at 39-28.
Despite trailing by double-digits four different times in the first half, the Geoducks (4-20, 1-16) cut into the deficit just before the intermission as Marquise Doss scored two of his seven points on an inside basket to reduce the C of I lead to 48-44 through twenty minutes.
C of I came out of halftime and quickly regained control of the game, going on a 33-10 run during the first ten minutes of the final period to push the lead to 27 points.
The Coyotes would go on to extend the margin to 33 points in the final five minutes, getting solid production from their bench as 12 different C of I players recorded at least two points in the contest.
Two other Yotes joined Kovacveic and O'Byrne in double-figures as Sydney Donaldson scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and Joe Vaz recorded 10 points to go along with two blocks.
Kovaceivc recorded game-highs in multiple categories, collecting nine rebounds to go with his four blocks and eight field-goals made.
An area that has been a struggle for the Coyotes took a turn for the better as C of I missed just two shots from the charity-stripe, knocking down 9-of-11 free-throws on the night.
With the win, C of I clinched a share of the Cascade Conference regular-season championship, guaranteeing the Yotes the No.1 seed in the post-season conference tournament and punching their ticket to Branson for the NAIA Division II National Championship tournament.
The Coyotes also made history tonight becoming the first team to successfully defend their conference championship the next season in program history. The win also marks the 53rd win in the last two seasons, a new program high for a two-year period.
C of I will close out the regular season tomorrow night, traveling to Kirkland to take on Northwest at 7:30 p.m. (PT) The Coyotes can become the outright conference champions with a win or losses from both Warner Pacific and Concordia.
