CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho used a 40-8 edge in bench points to propel the No. 24 ranked Coyotes to a 67-60 victory over Park University-Gilbert in the final game of the 35th Annual Taco Bell Shoot-Out.
The Coyotes (2-0) shared the team title with Corban University, as the Warriors defeated Rocky Mountain, 77-67, to join C of I with a perfect weekend.
The Buccaneers (0-2), from Gilbert, Ariz., used a 10-0 run in the opening four minutes to take a 10-2 lead – extending the margin to 17-7 on an Erik Palmer jumper. C of I would answer with 13-straight points, getting back-to-back baskets from
Ivory Miles-Williams and consecutive 3's from
Tyler Robinett and
Derek Wadsworth to grab the lead.
The margin would grow to 29-23 on a
Straton Rogers fast break bucket, but Park scored the final five points of the half to cut the deficit to 29-28.
An early run by the Yotes pushed the lead to 37-30 on a
Jake O'Neil jumper, but the Bucs kept scrapping, as a John Norsworthy triple capping a 14-6 run that gave Park a 44-43 lead with 11 minutes left.
C of I had an answer, as a
Ricardo Time driving basket and a Wadsworth triple gave the Yotes a 56-51 lead – with the duo combining to go 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute.
Robinett had a career-high 12 points, with Miles-Williams and Wadsworth each adding nine. Time had eight points and five rebounds, with
Drew Wyman leading C of I with six rebounds.
Jacob Bingham led the Bucs with 18 points, with Palmer scoring 15.
C of I will have next weekend off in preparation for road games at Carroll and Montana Tech.
