CALDWELL, Idaho – Turning up the defensive pressure over the final 10 minutes of the game, the College of Idaho used a 26-4 run to break away from upset-minded Multnomah University, as the No. 24 ranked Coyotes defeated the Lions, 69-46, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Yotes (12-5, 5-2 CCC) limited MU to just two made field goals over the key 10 minute stretch, forcing seven turnovers along the away.
Employing a methodical, stalling offense, the Lions (4-12, 1-6) slowed the pace to a crawl – as the teams combined for just seven points in the first eight minutes of the game (a 4-3 C of I lead). The Yotes countered with the interior play of
Aziz Leeks and Matthew Duniphan, as Leeks recorded 10 of his 12 points and all 11 of his rebounds in the opening half, with Duniphan scoring all 11 of his career-high total in the first 20 minutes, as C of I led 31-16 at halftime.
The Lions started quickly after the break, making their first five field goal attempts – with a Ben Grandle 3-pointer cutting the Coyote lead to 40-38 with 10:21 to play.
C of I played inside-out – getting two
Joey Nebeker free throws and a long
Gibson Berryhill triple to push the lead to seven, with
Talon Pinckney splashing a mid-range jumper and Nebeker canning a 3-pointer to make it 50-38. The Yotes weren't done, as Pinckney stole an inbounds pass and drained a trey – along with a pair of free throws and Berryhill buried a triple – part of 18-straight points by C of I.
Nebeker had 13 points and a season-high five steals for the Yotes; Pinckney had nine points and three assists; and Berryhill scoring eight points in the victory. C of I had a 46-31 edge in rebounds and forced 19 turnovers on the night.
Moe Keita had 12 points and eight rebounds, with Grandle scoring 12 points in the loss for MU, who made just 5-of-20 3-point attempts.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Warner Pacific at 7:30 p.m.
- It marked the third time this season that the Coyotes have held a team under 50 points (46 vs. Montana Tech; 43 vs. Portland Bible; 46 vs. Multnomah
- The Coyotes committed just nine turnovers in the win, the second time this season C of I has recorded single-digit turnovers
- It was the fifth-straight game that a C of I opponent has failed to shoot better than 33-percent from 3-point range
