EUGENE, Ore. – The College of Idaho could not overcome a slow first half start – and a late Coyote rally came up just short, as Northwest Christian upset the top-ranked team in the NAIA, 84-80, inside Morse Event Center.
The Beacons (10-3, 2-1 CCC) made 15-of-26 3-point baskets in the victory, as Austin Tyner scored 25 of his career-high 36 points in the opening half – including 6-of-7 shooting from outside the arc.
C of I (14-2, 3-1) never led in the game – as NCU converted 61-percent of their first half field goals. An 11-2 run midway through the period, including consecutive 3's from Andre Ugoagu, helped the Beacons build a 40-24 lead – with the Oregon school taking a 49-38 lead to the break.
The Yotes trailed 63-51 with 13 minutes remaining, but battled back, as a
Gibson Berryhill triple capped an 8-0 run to pull C of I within four. A
Nate Bruneel 3-pointer cut the gap to 70-68 with six minutes to play, while a Berryhill 22-footer got the visitors within 77-76 inside the final 90 seconds.
NCU proved too much, as Tyrus Hosley drained his fifth 3-pointer of the night with a minute to go to extend the lead to four – with the Beacons making 3-of-4 free throws inside the final seconds to earn the win.
Four Coyotes scored in double-figures, led by 15 points and six rebounds from Bruneel.
Keun Palu-Thompson scored 14, with Berryhill adding 12 and
Connor Desaulniers finishing with 11 points and seven boards. C of I made 12-of-27 3-pointers and had a 35-24 edge in rebounding, but committed a season-high 19 turnovers – including 13 first half miscues.
Tyner finished the night 13-of-17 from the field and added four steals in 37 minutes of action, with Hosley scoring 15 – all from outside the arc – and Reece Robinson tallied 13.
C of I has a quick turnaround, hosting Eastern Oregon on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
