CALDWELL, Idaho – Four weeks ago, Oregon Tech handed the College of Idaho their worst loss in five seasons. Tonight, the Coyotes returned the favor, using a stellar second half defense to send the No. 15 ranked Owls to their worst loss of the season, a 96-78 decision inside a boisterous J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The No. 25 ranked Coyotes (19-8, 12-5 CCC) extended their win streak to five in a row and improved their home record to 10-1 on the season – defeating their third Top-25 team of the year.
C of I broke open a 74-72 contest at the five minute mark of the second half with a 20-1 run – forcing three OIT (20-7, 13-4) turnovers and eight consecutive missed shot attempts.
Emanuel Morgan had three lay-ups,
Dominique Jordan drained two 3-pointers and
Aitor Zubizarreta had a big 3-point play in the rally.
Tech looked to repeat their start of the Jan. 14 90-57 win in Klamath Falls, scoring 15-straight points – including three of Brandon Halter's six made 3-pointers – to surge to a 18-6 lead just six minutes in. The Owls would withstand a pair of mini C of I runs and lead 37-25 with five minutes left in the period after another Halter triple – before the Yotes turned the tables.
Joey Nebeker would score 11 points in a 21-6 run to end the half, with a long Zubizarreta trey giving C of I a 46-43 lead at the break.
A Mitchell Fink 3-pointer early in the second half gave OIT their final lead at 49-48 – but after an
Aziz Leeks lay-up gave C of I the lead for good, the two teams kept the score tight until the late Coyote run.
Zubizarreta led the Coyotes with 25 points and four of C of I's 12 steals. Nebeker had 17 points and three blocked shots; Morgan had 16 points and seven assists; Leeks scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting; and Jordan scored 11. The Yotes held a 18-8 edge in turnover margin – committing just two second half miscues, while holding OIT to just 31-percent shooting after the break.
Halter led all scorers with 28 points, with Joel Yellow Owl scoring 12 points and Fink tallying 11 – but both Yellow Owl and Fink fouled out late in the second half.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Southern Oregon at 7:30 p.m.
