ASHLAND, Ore. – A 14-0 run inside the final five minutes cut an 18-point Southern Oregon lead to four late in the contest, but the College of Idaho could not get closer, as the No. 13 Raiders rode a big shooting night to a 100-93 victory over the Coyotes inside Mountain Avenue Gym.
The Raiders (7-3, 2-0) made 67-percent of their first half shots in jumping out to a 55-36 halftime lead and held off a frenetic rally by the visitors to end C of I's six-game win streak.
SOU built a 92-74 lead with 4:36 left in the contest when the Yotes (7-4, 1-1) hit their stride – as an
Aziz Leeks tip-in, a
Justin Saunders baseline jumper and a
Talon Pinckney driving lay-up cut into the margin. Following two Saunders free throws, Pinckney hit back-to-back triples to cut the lead to 92-88 with just under two minutes remaining. C of I had a chance after a Raiders turnover to cut deeper into the deficit – but Pinckney had a driving lay-up blocked and SOU made 8-of-10 free throws to close out the win.
The two teams played even over the opening 10 minutes of the game – playing to six ties and four lead changes – the last at 22-22 after a
Keun Palu-Thompson lay-up got the Yotes even. Enter Kenny Meyer, who scored seven straight points – part of a career-high 30 points for the senior, as SOU outscored the Yotes 33-14 the rest of the half to take command of the contest.
Point-guard Tristen Holmes had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Raiders, with Ben DeSaulnier adding 19 – as SOU made 11-of-23 3-point attempts in the victory.
Pinckney led C of I with 22 points and eight assists, while Leeks had 18 points and 11 boards – logging his seventh double-double of the year in the losing effort.
C of I has the next week off for finals before returning home on Dec. 15, hosting Corban at 7:30 p.m.
