SALEM, Ore. – No. 5 College of Idaho made four free throws in the final :17 on its way to a 78-75 win over host Corban on Friday night. With :17 left,
Samaje Morgan made a pair of free throws to put the Yotes ahead 76-74 but the visiting Warriors had a chance to tie the game but made just one of two free throws with :07 left. Then,
Drew Wyman put the finishing touches on the win with a pair of free throws with :05 left in the game as a last-second 3-pointer by the Warriors fell short.
Morgan finished the game with 21 points to lead three Yotes in double figures, joining him were Wyman, who had 18 and
Tyler Robinett, who had 11.
With the win, College of Idaho extends its winning streak to eight as they improve to 13-2 overall and 8-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Corban (9-4, 6-2 CCC) landed four players in double figures with Audree Polk scoring 20 leading the Warriors. He was joined in double figures by Jay Wilson (16), Reece Van Lierop (12) and Dirk Helaire II (10).
After a jumper by Polk with :49 left tied the game at 74 and for the 10
th time in the contest, College of Idaho called a timeout with :21 left in the game. In the timeout huddle, the Yotes put the ball in the hands of Morgan, who was fouled with :17. The Eugene native made a pair of free throws to put College of Idaho ahead 76-74.
On the ensuing possession by Corban, Polk made one of two free throws with :07 left in the game to make it a 76-75 game. After a timeout by the host Warriors, the Yotes got the ball into Wyman, who made a pair of free throws. A last-second 3-pointer by Corban fell short as the visitors came away with the win.
The game was tied on 10 occasions and saw 11 different lead changes. Down 43-35 at halftime, College of Idaho started the second half on a 9-2 spurt to make it a 45-44 game with 16:29 left to play. Five points came from Wyman and three from Morgan sparked by the spurt.
College of Idaho managed to tie the game on four occasions in the second half before going ahead 74-72 with 2:03 left to play when Wyman made a jumper.
The Warriors tied the game at 74 when Polk knocked down a jumper with :49 left to set the stage for the heroics in the final seconds.
Next, College of Idaho will face Bushnell on Saturday, January 13 at 5 p.m. (PST)/6 p.m. (MT).
