WALLA WALLA, Wash. – For the seventh time on the season, the No. 3 College of Idaho men's basketball team reached the century mark to pave the way to its 15th-straight win with a 106-61 rout of Walla Walla on Saturday.
The Yotes (20-2, 16-1 CCC) were sparked by a first half, where they scored 58 points in the first 20 minutes as they shot 51.2% (21-for-41) from the field. Five players for College of Idaho reached double figures as
Drew Wyman led the efforts with 20 points.
Samaje Morgan had 16 points,
Dougie Peoples added 15,
Johnny Radford poured in 14 and
Jake O'Neil had his seventh double double of the season with 13 points and 16 rebounds. The 16 boards by O'Neil ties a career high for the Fruitland, Idaho native.
The Wolves (5-16, 4-11 CCC) were held to 37.3% (22-for-59) shooting in the loss. Andrew Vaughan scored a game-high 25 points, making 6 of 11 3-pointers.
College of Idaho controlled the contest, outscoring Walla Walla – 40 to 16 in points in the paint, 38 to 10 in points off turnovers and 43 to 19 in bench scoring. Walla Walla held a brief 4-2 lead until Wyman hit his first of four 3-pointers that put the visitors from Caldwell ahead for the rest of the contest. The Yotes were up 34-30 with 5:29 left in the opening half before closing the half on a game-deciding 24-1 run to end the first 20 minutes.
Johnny Radford scored 10, including the first five of the second half, as College of Idaho outscored Walla Walla, 48-30 in the final 20 minutes on the way to the victory. After shooting 51.2% in the first half, the Yotes shot 47.4% in the second half. The stifling Yotes defense came away with nine steals and held the Wolves to 33.3% shooting.
In five of the last seven games, College of Idaho has reached the century mark, plus in the stretch of the last seven contests, the Yotes have hit at least 10 triples for the first time in recent history.
The Yotes will come back to town for its next two games where they will face Warner Pacific on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Multnomah on Saturday at 5 p.m.
