CALDWELL, Idaho – Led by a balanced scoring attack and another stellar defensive effort, the College of Idaho won their ninth game in a row, a 71-53 victory over Walla Walla University in a late-night contest inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Yotes (19-5, 13-1 CCC) held their third-straight opponent under 60 points – capitalizing on 21 turnovers for 28 points – in completing a weekend sweep against the Washington school.
WWU (5-19, 1-13) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Michael Isotalo in an 8-0 run to take their lone lead of the night at 8-7 – only to see the Coyotes rattle off 18 of the next 21 points.
Roosevelt Adams drained consecutive triples and converted a 3-point play to give C of I a 16-8 lead.
Ivory Miles-Williams connected on two lay-ups,
Dominic Hulsey splashed a trey and
Keun Palu-Thompson added two free throws to give the hosts a 25-11 lead.
Roy Zavala hit a 3-ball for the Wolves early in the second half to cut the margin to 40-29 – but the visitors could not get closer.
Nate Bruneel scored seven points a 14-2 run – including a long corner trey – to blow the game wide open.
All 10 C of I players in uniform scored – with eight players scoring six points or more. Adams had 10 points, while Bruneel,
Talon Pinckney and
Aziz Leeks had nine – Leeks leading all players with 11 rebounds.
Jake Bruner had a season-high eight points,
Gibson Berryhill added eight points, with Miles-Williams scoring seven.
Isotalo led all scorers with 15 points – all in the first half – with Zavala scoring all 13 of his points after halftime. The Wolves hung around by making 8-of-20 3-point attempts.
The Yotes, now 11-1 at home this season, close out a 5-game string of games in Caldwell next weekend with dates against Evergreen and Northwest.
