CALDWELL, Idaho – Javonte Byrd hit three 3-pointers in a Northwest Christian 22-3 run to end the first half, as the Beacons defeated The College of Idaho, 72-62, in the Stretch Internet NAIA Division II Game of the Week inside a raucous J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Box Score The No. 10 ranked Beacons (18-4, 11-1 CCC) won for the 11th time in a row, maintaining a one-game lead in the Cascade Conference standings – completing a road sweep of C of I and Eastern Oregon for the first time in program history.
The Coyotes (13-9, 8-5) hung tough throughout, opening a 25-19 lead on a
Joey Nebeker tip-in with just over eight minutes remaining in the opening half. NCU clamped down defensively the rest of the period, holding C of I to 1-of-9 shooting the rest of frame. Byrd canned back-to-back triples and Omar Richards followed with another to give the visitors a 30-25 lead. Richard added two buckets and Byrd drained a long 3-pointer to cap the period, giving NCU a 42-29 lead at the break.
The lead would grow to 46-32 on a Jay Mayernik lay-up early in the second half, but the Yotes would try to mount a comeback. C of I cut the margin to eight points on three occasions, the last at 59-51 on one of five second half
Dominique Jordan 3-pointers, but could not get closer.
Richards led the Beacons with 23 points and nine rebounds, Byrd scored 22, with Mayernik scoring 10 points with 11 rebounds. NCU connected on 11 3-point baskets in the victory.
Jordan had 17 second half points to pace C of I, with Nebeker scoring 14 points and seven rebounds. The Coyotes held a surprising 40-36 edge on the glass, but made just 34-percent of their field goal attempts and shot just 11 free throws.
The Coyotes hit the road for five of their final seven games, beginning Friday at Northwest University.
