CALDWELL, Idaho –
Emanuel Morgan scored a career-high 27 points, including seven points in overtime, as the College of Idaho used late-game heroics to steal a 100-89 victory over Northwest University before a partisan crowd in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Coyotes (15-8, 8-5 CCC) rallied from a six-point deficit inside the final 90 seconds to force overtime and closed the game on an 11-0 run to improve to 8-1 at home this season.
It was the Eagles (16-6, 8-6) who looked to have stolen the victory, erasing a 44-35 halftime deficit by making 51-percent of their second half field goals – including 6-of-9 from long range. A 7-0 run midway through the half gave the visitors a 56-53 lead, while Michael Dupree hit 3-pointers on three-straight possessions late in the contest – as NU surged to a 81-75 lead with 96 seconds left.
C of I got a
Roosevelt Adams free throw and following an NU turnover, Adams splashed a triple in the left corner to pull the Yotes within 81-79. Ben Tucakovic made two free throws for the Eagles, but
Aitor Zubizarreta canned a long trey in the right corner to cut the margin to 83-82. Justice Martion split two freebies for NU with 19 seconds left, only see C of I get the ball to Morgan, who was fouled and made two free throws to tie the score at 84-84.
A wild final three seconds ensued, as Dupree was fouled with 2.3 seconds left – but NU's leading scorer missed the front-end of a 1-and-1. Following the rebound, Morgan heaved a desperation 55-footer that rimmed out at the horn.
Morgan opened the overtime with a 3-pointer and a lay-up, only to be matched by the Eagles, Dak Shagren, with his long triple tying the game for tenth and final time at 89-89. Zubizarreta answered with a 3-pointer of his own to give C of I the lead for good, as the Yotes clamped down defensively, forcing NU into four missed shots and two turnovers the rest of the way, while making 8-of-10 free throws to close the win.
Morgan made 10-of-10 free throws in the victory, adding five assists and three steals. Zubizarreta had 23 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals – making 5-of-11 3-point tries. Adams scored 21 points and
Aziz Leeks added 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win – as C of I tied a season-high with 16 made 3-pointers. C of I won the battle on the boards, 52-46, including 19 offensive rebounds.
Dupree led NU with 25 points, with Tucakovic scoring 20 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from distance. Martion had 15 points and Tre' Benton scored 10 points with a team-high nine rebounds.
The Yotes have a quick turnaround, host Evergreen tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: It was C of I's first overtime game since a 100-96 loss at Northwest Nazarene last season and their first home overtime game since a 80-68 win over Westminster in 2014-15; Morgan has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games – the second time he has achieved the feat in his career; the Yotes improved to 4-0 at home against NU under
Scott Garson; the Yotes are now 11-1 this season when outrebounding their opponents; it marked the first time C of I scored 100 points since a 100-85 win at. Evergreen in 2015-16.
