TUCSON, Ariz. – Freshman Kobi Simmons led six Arizona players in double figures with 17 points, as the No. 10/11 ranked Wildcats used a dominating first half to defeat the College of Idaho, 86-35, before 13,844 fans at McKale Center.
In an exhibition game between the Division I Wildcats and NAIA Division II Coyotes, Arizona held C of I without a made field goal for nearly a 10 minute stretch of the first half, sprinting to a 28-3 lead – taking advantage of the play of 7-foot forwards Dusan Ristic and Lauri Markkanen, who each scored eight points in the surge.
Trailing 50-9 at the break, the Yotes had a spirited second half – playing even with the Wildcats on the glass (20-20) and forcing Arizona into 0-of-6 shooting from outside the arc.
Gibson Berryhill led C of I with six points in the loss, with
Joey Nebeker,
Roosevelt Adams,
Dominique Jordan and
Emanuel Morgan each scoring five.
Ristic had 14 points and nine rebounds for Arizona, with Rawle Alkins, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Kadeem Allen all scoring 11 – Allen adding eight assists and seven steals.
C of I returns to action a week from Friday in Lewiston against Lewis-Clark State.
NOTES – The crowd in the McKale Center was the largest a C of I men's basketball team has ever played in front of…the Yotes are now 1-7 all-time against Division I teams in exhibition games…no Coyote played more than 22 minutes, while seven Arizona players played 22 minutes or more.
