CALDWELL, Idaho - The College of Idaho flipped the script in front of a raucous crowd Thursday night, storming back in the second half to knock off Bushnell University 74-67 in a thrilling Cascade Collegiate Conference showdown at J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
After Bushnell lit it up early and carried a 43-30 lead into the break, the Yotes wasted no time turning momentum. Fueled by defensive stops, timely shot-making and an electric crowd of 1,609 that spent much of the second half on its feet, C of I outscored the Beacons 44-24 after halftime and seized control in a game that featured nine lead changes.
Rey Johnston delivered a career breakout performance, pouring in a game-high 28 points on 12-of-18 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds. Johnston was everywhere in the second half, scoring from all three levels as the Yotes steadily chipped away at the deficit before finally taking the lead for good midway through the period.
Utrillo Morris provided the night's signature sequence. After a turnover led to a wide-open Bushnell look, Morris raced back to erase it with a chase-down block, igniting the crowd. Later, he capped a possession with a desperation, volleyball-line banked 3-pointer that kissed glass and beat the shot clock, sending the arena into a frenzy and swinging momentum firmly to the Yotes.
Dougie Peoples was relentless around the rim, finishing with 16 points and making layups from seemingly every angle as C of I repeatedly attacked the paint. His baskets helped the Yotes grab their first second-half lead at 48–47 and push it to multiple possessions as the Beacons went cold, shooting just 30.6 percent in the second half and missing all seven of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Bushnell, which shot over 63 percent from three in the first half, saw its early advantage evaporate as the Yotes' defense tightened. Kaleb Burnett led the Beacons with 22 points, but C of I's balance and energy proved too much down the stretch.
The Yotes sealed the win at the free-throw line and on the glass, finishing with a 42-36 rebounding edge and holding Bushnell to 24 points after the break to cap a statement bounce-back victory in conference play.
