CALDWELL, Idaho –
Keun Palu-Thompson scored a game-high 18 points and helped the College of Idaho to their best Cascade Conference defensive performance in 14 years – blitzing Walla Walla University, 83-37, in the first of two weekend match-ups between the teams inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The win for the No. 7 ranked Yotes (18-5, 12-1 CCC) was their eighth in a row – as the CCC leaders limited WWU to just 30-percent shooting for the day and forced 23 turnovers. The 37 points by the Wolves (5-18, 1-12) were the fewest by a C of I opponent in a league game since Warner Pacific mustered just 35 points in a 73-35 loss during the 2003-04 season.
WWU held two early leads at 2-0 and 4-2, before Palu-Thompson and
Roosevelt Adams hit 3-pointers in a 13-4 run that gave C of I the lead for good. The Wolves would hang around – trailing just 30-20 with three minutes remaining after a Josh Hager triple – but 3's from Adams and
Gibson Berryhill gave the hosts their largest lead of the period at the final horn.
C of I picked up the defensive pressure in the second half – holding the Wolves to just two made field goals over the final 10 minutes – closing the game on a 25-4 run. Palu-Thompson scored 11 points after the break – including seven-straight points to start the surge.
All 10 Coyotes in uniform scored in the victory, with Adams scoring 16 points in just 15 minutes of action – making 4-of-7 3-pointers – and Berryhill hitting 4-of-5 3's, adding 14 points.
Aziz Leeks had six points and a game-high 11 rebounds, with
Ivory Miles-Williams scoring just two points, but adding four rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The Yotes made 52-percent of their field goal attempts – including 13 3-point baskets – while recording a season-high 17 steals converted into 28 points.
No WWU player scored in double-figures, with Jacob Vargas scoring all eight of his team-high points in the second half.
The two teams close out the weekend series tomorrow with a 9:30 p.m. match-up – live on ESPN Boise.
