CALDWELL, Idaho – Shyke Smalls banked in a desperation game-winning 35-foot heave at the buzzer to lift Montana Western to a 70-69 victory over the College of Idaho in the final game of the Domino's Classic.
After squandering an 11-point second half lead inside the final five minutes, the Bulldogs (6-1) turned to their senior point guard, who collected a frantic pass from Brian Neal in the final second – shot putting a heave from near the sidelines as the final horn sounded – cleanly deflecting off the middle of the backboard and through the twine for the improbable win.
The Coyotes (7-2), who had their six-game win streak snapped – woke up from a woeful stretch in the second half to regain the lead. C of I led 49-45 with just over 13 minutes remaining, but made just one field goal over a nine minute stretch. Western capitalized, going on a 20-5 run – including one of three Riley King 3's and a four-point play from Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, to take a 65-54 lead with 4:32 left.
C of I didn't quit – forcing four straight Bulldog turnovers in a late surge – with
Joey Nebeker hitting a pair of treys and adding a free throw to cap a 12-0 run to give the hosts a 66-65 lead inside the final minute.
King answered with a tip-in of his own miss to give Western a one-point edge, but
Emanuel Morgan countered with a pair of free throws to flip the margin. Morgan looked to seal the win with a steal with six seconds left – and made the first of two free throws – but missed the second, setting the stage for the Bulldog heroics.
Western limited the Yotes to just 36-percent shooting on the night and forced a season-high 21 turnovers, while outscoring C of I 30-16 in the paint.
King scored 13 points and had eight rebounds for the Bulldogs, with Neal adding 13 and Marcus Paine scoring 10 points with eight rebounds.
Nebeker had 22 points and six rebounds, with Morgan scoring 13 points and recording a game-high seven assists. Reserve
Chris Vines had career-highs with 11 points and seven rebounds, with
Roosevelt Adams leading all players with nine boards.
C of I opens Cascade Conference play Saturday at Eastern Oregon, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. (PST) EOU finished the Domino's Classic 2-0 after rallying for an 80-76 victory over Rocky Mountain in today's opener.
NOTE – It was the first loss for C of I at home in a last-second shot since December of 2007 – when a last second tip-in by Montana Western in overtime sunk the Yotes, 90-89.
