CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho used a 9-0 run inside the final four minutes of the contest to erase a 5-point Eastern Oregon lead, as the Yotes opened Cascade Conference play with a 64-61 victory inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Despite making just 28-percent of their second half field goal attempts, the No. 18-ranked Coyotes (6-2, 1-0 CCC) scored 21 points off 18 EOU turnovers in picking up their 21st-straight CCC victory.
The Mountaineers (3-2, 0-1) rallied from a 37-26 halftime deficit, as a pair of 3-point plays from Xavier Lovelace and another from Ismael Valdez keyed an 11-0 run, giving the visitors a 51-48 lead at the 8-minute mark.
The Eastern lead would grow to 60-55 with four minutes remaining on a fast break lay-up from Phillip Malatare – before the C of I defense would clamp down. The Yotes would force three turnovers and the Mountaineers would miss their final four shots of the game – as the hosts methodically gained control.
Two
Ricardo Time free throws and a steal and basket from
Charles Elzie pulled C of I within 60-59. After two EOU turnovers, the Yotes fed
Drew Wyman, who split free throws on the two possessions, to give C of I the lead. Following an EOU miss, Time would secure a rebound and make two free throws, and after Malatare missed the front end of a 1-and-1 for the Mounties,
Jake O'Neil put the game away with a free throw with 21 seconds left.
EOU jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes, but C of I scored 12 of the next 16 points to take the lead. C of I would close the half on a 11-2 run, with Elzie scoring six points in the surge to build an 11-point lead.
Time led the Yotes with 15 points, with
Tyler Robinett scoring nine points, adding a career-high seven rebounds. Wyman and Elzie each had eight points and three assists, with
Paul Wilson scoring seven points with two blocks.
Valdez led EOU with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, with Malatare scoring 14 and Lovelace 13.
C of I finished with a 35-29 lead in rebounds and won despite EOU making 51-percent of their field goal attempts.
The Yotes return to action on Saturday night, hosting Montana Tech at 7 p.m.
