LEWISTON, Idaho –
Nate Bruneel scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, leading the College of Idaho to the title of the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge Tournament, rolling past Montana State-Northern, 78-58, inside the LCSC Activity Center.
The Yotes (4-0) held the NAIA Division I school to just 36-percent shooting from the floor and used a 43-28 edge on the glass in picking up the victory. The win also improved head coach
Colby Blaine to 4-0 at the helm of C of I – the first head coach in program history to win his first four games.
For the second night in a row, a big run midway through the first half broke the game open. Leading 13-11 with 13 minutes left in the half, C of I used got a pair of buckets from
Gibson Berryhill, a trey from
Justin Saunders, an inside basket from
Connor Desaulniers and a 3-point play from
Talon Pinckney – all part of a 15-1 run that gave the Coyotes a 16-point lead.
The Lights (2-1) closed the half on an 11-2 run, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Adam Huse, to get within 35-27. C of I slammed the door shut in the second half, making 55-percent of their field goal attempts, including 4-of-5 3-point attempts, to earn the victory.
Bruneel added seven rebounds in the win, with Pinckney recording 14 points and five assists and Berryhill scoring 12.
Four MSUN players scored in double-figures, led by 12 from Huse, but the Lights converted just 8-of-26 3-point attempts.
C of I returns to action on Tuesday, starting a string of seven home games in eight contests, meeting rival Northwest Nazarene in Game 1 of the United Heritage Insurance Mayors' Cup Series.
