LA GRANDE, Ore. –
Jalen Galloway scored a season-high 22 points, leading six College of Idaho players in double-figures, as the Coyotes ran their win streak to 17 with a key 89-79 victory over Eastern Oregon at Quinn Coliseum.
The No. 2-ranked Coyotes (23-3, 16-0 CCC) moved one win away from clinching the Cascade Conference title and automatic berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships and one win away from tying their all-time win streak record, set in 1955.
Galloway made 9-of-12 field goals, including four 3-pointers – as C of I converted nearly 60-percent of their field goal attempts on the evening (37-of-62) – their best shooting mark in conference play this season.
The two teams played even throughout the opening period, combining for four ties and 13 lead changes, with the Mountaineers (11-12, 5-9) taking a 28-26 lead late in the period. Galloway answered with consecutive triples, part of a 10-2 Coyote run, as the visitors took a 43-37 lead to the break.
EOU pulled even at 67-67 on a Brandon Porter 3-pointer with eight minutes left – but
Jake Bruner scored back-to-back buckets and Charles Elzie splashed a 3-pointer in a 7-0 run for the Coyotes – with the lead surging to 86-75 on an
Otto Taylor triple.
Bruner and Elzie each scored 12 in the win, with
Nate Bruneel scoring 11 and both Taylor and
Ivory Miles-Williams adding 10.
Connor Desaulniers had six points, nine rebounds and six assists – with C of I holding a 32-23 rebound margin.
Max McCullough led EOU with 22 points and post Jarek Schetzle had 16 points and eight rebounds – as Eastern lost despite making 57-percent of their field goals.
C of I has the weekend off, returning to action next Friday for a Valentine's Day match-up vs. Evergreen.
