LA GRANDE, Ore. – Bryan McGriff's 3-point play with 39 seconds remaining gave Eastern Oregon the lead for good, as the Mountaineers scored the final 14 points of an 83-79 victory over the College of Idaho at Quinn Coliseum.
McGriff, who scored the final nine points for EOU (8-2, 1-0 CCC), grabbed a rebound of an errant Cole Ashby 23-footer and stuck home the put-back to give the hosts their first lead since early in the first half.
The Yotes (7-3, 0-1), who saw three players disqualified due to fouls and were outscored 28-11 at the free throw line, had two cracks in the waning seconds.
Dominique Jordan missed a 3-point try in the corner with 30 seconds left – but C of I grabbed an offensive rebound. The visitors milked the clock inside the final 10 seconds and fed post
Aziz Leeks – who was fouled – but missed the front end of a 1-and-1, with McGriff getting the rebound and sealing the victory with two free throws.
A Leeks interior basket gave C of I a 79-69 lead with just over four minutes to play – but the Coyotes missed their final five field goal attempts and had a pair of turnovers. A McGriff jumper and three Kentrell Washington free throws cut the lead in half, with McGriff adding two inside buckets to set up the wild finish.
McGriff finished with a game-high 27 points and 13 rebounds, with Max McCullough scoring 25 points – including six 3-pointers – and Washington had 15 points and six boards for EOU.
After spotting Eastern a 14-6 lead in the opening half, the Yotes used a 16-2 run – helped by a pair of
Roosevelt Adams triples, to take control of the game. A Jordan trey late in the half gave C of I their largest lead at 45-32.
Adams scored 14 points off the bench for the Coyotes, with
Emanuel Morgan recording 13 points and eight assists. Leeks had 12 points and six rebounds, with Jordan scoring 11.
Chris Vines added six points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Yotes have a quick turnaround, traveling Tuesday to Nampa for Game 2 of the United Heritage Insurance Mayors' Cup Series against Northwest Nazarene.
