CALDWELL, Idaho – Playing for the first time in 17 days, the College of Idaho shook off the rust and rode a career-high 18 points from
Gibson Berryhill in an 81-74 victory over Northwest University inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The win for the Coyotes (16-2, 5-1 CCC) extended their home win streak to 12 and pulled the squad into a 3-way tie with Oregon Tech and Northwest Christian atop the league standings.
The No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA Division II made a season-low 26-percent of their 3-point attempts, but three big treys in the first half gave the Yotes a lead they would not relinquish. Put-back baskets from
Nate Bruneel and
Connor Desaulniers were followed by back-to-back Berryhill triples and another from
Keun Palu-Thompson, with the 13-2 run giving the hosts their largest lead of the night at 22-9.
The Coyotes took a 36-26 lead to the break, but the Eagles (10-10, 2-6) would not go away – making 9-of-19 3-point attempts in the final 20 minutes – and received a monster 27-point, 18-rebound night from Hussayn Ford, to stay in the game.
NU cut the margin to 56-50 after Nick Navarro drained consecutive 3-pointers – C of I had an answer, as Desaulniers converted two inside baskets, Berryhill splashed a triple and Bruneel brought the crowd to its feet with a tomahawk dunk over the 6-foot-7 Ford, part of a 3-point play that gave the Coyotes a 68-56 edge with five minutes left.
The visitors had one final push, as Navarro and Josh Meyer each hit 3's in a 10-2 run that pulled the Eagles within 70-66 – but a
Talon Pinckney fade-away jumper stopped the rally and Berryhill made four-straight free throws in the final 20 seconds to complete the win.
Pinckney had 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win, with Desaulniers recording his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Ivory Miles-Williams came off the bench to score four points with a career-high seven boards – as the C of I reserves had a dominating 45-7 scoring edge.
Meyer had 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting for NU, with Navarro scoring all 12 of his points in the second half. The Eagles made just 3-of-11 free throws and were outscored 17-3 at the stripe.
C of I returns to the court tomorrow night, hosting The Evergreen State College at 7:30 p.m.
