SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Defense has been the signature for the College of Idaho through the 2019-20 season and tonight inside the Sanford Pentagon was no exception. The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Coyotes held host Northwestern College 36 points below their scoring average, rolling to a 67-49 victory in the first-round of the NAIA Division II National Championship.
Talon Pinckney scored 17 points for the Yotes (31-3), who extended their win streak to 25 games and tie the single-season wins record.
C of I will meet IU-Kokomo in Friday's second-round, with tip-off set for Noon (CDT) – a watch party will be held at Stewarts Bar and Grill in Caldwell.
"I am so proud of our team and it is a testament to their focus and character," said head coach
Colby Blaine. "Today was such a long day, dealing with the Parade of Champions and a late start – but our guys never wavered. We did not turn the ball over and did a great job in the second half on the boards."
Pinckney jumpstarted the Coyotes, scoring eight of their first 10 points, as C of I built an early 10-5 lead.
Connor Desaulniers scored back-to-back baskets in the paint to cap a 9-2 run, as the lead grew to 24-12 midway through the period.
The Red Raiders (20-12), playing an hour from home, rallied behind 17 first half points from Trent Hilbrands, cut the margin to 35-26 at the half. Hilbrands added an early jumper and Craig Sterk hit a 3-pointer, to pull the hosts within 37-33 with 17 minutes to play.
C of I turned to Pinckney, as the All-American scored seven-straight points to push the margin to double-digits, with a triple from
Jalen Galloway and a put-back basket from
Ivory Miles-Williams giving the Yotes a 49-35. The Coyotes defense did the rest – holding the Red Raiders to just one made field goal in a six minute stretch late in the contest – to put the game away.
Pinckney made 7-of-11 field goals and all three of his 3-point attempts in the win. Galloway scored nine, Miles-Williams had eight points and nine rebounds, with
Ricardo Time and Desaulniers each scoring eight. The Coyotes had a 39-33 edge on the glass.
Hilbrands led all players with 25 points – but NC made just 32-percent of their field goals and finished 5-of-21 from 3-point range.
NOTES: C of I did not made a free throw in the win – going 0-for-3…it was the fewest free throw attempts since the Yotes went 2-for-2 in a 2018 win over Marian in the NAIA Tournament quarterfinals…the Coyotes ran their win streak to 48 games when an opponent failed to score 60 points and improved to 58-2 since 1981 when allowing 50 points or less…following the game, the NAIA has announced that it is limiting attendance at the Championship to only team staff and immediate family members – beginning on Thursday.
