Cavaliers Outlast Yotes in OT
PORTLAND, Ore.—After surrendering a 19-point lead, Concordia University mounted a comeback of their own in the closing minutes of the second half to defeat The College of Idaho 71-66 in overtime in men’s college basketball action on Friday.
With the result, Concordia moved to 8-10 on the year and 4-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action while The College of Idaho dropped to 8-11 overall and 5-4 in the CCC.
After scoring the first seven points following the opening tip, Concordia moved quickly to a 23-5 lead behind the strength of 12 points and four rebounds in the first half by sophomore Matt Ochs (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas H.S.).
In the first game of back-to-back conference road matches, The College of Idaho refused to let the game get away with the final eight points of the period to setup a second half run. Continuing the late streak, the Coyotes scored the first 10 points after intermission to take a two-point lead at the 11:42 mark, holding the Cavs without a point for over 11 minutes in the process.
“It was a tale of two halves,” Concordia head coach Brad Barbarick said. “We played very well the first 16 minutes and poorly the next 10 minutes. They disrupted us and we couldn’t seem to find a basket.”
After four ties, the last nodded at 47, the Yotes would eventually open a margin of eight points with four minutes remaining, but the Cavs would hit 5-of-6 free throw attempts before a Desmond Meray (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel H.S.) three-point stroke with 1:11 remaining would send the match into overtime.
After being held to 19 points in the second half, the Cavs would nearly match the number in the overtime period with 11 points in just the five minutes. Keyed by a crucial 7-of-8 performance from the free throw line, Concordia would outscore the Yotes 11-6 in the extra frame for the five-point spread.
“I am really pleased that we stayed focus to come back,” Barbarick said. “They got it done. It was a great character win for us.”
The Cavs finished with four players in double figures in the scoring column with Meray recording a game-high 17 points, nine of which came via the free throw line. Meray also added seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in the all-around effort.
Ochs finished a rebound shy of his first double-double of the season with 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Yotes were led by 14 points by Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho) and J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho) while Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho) led the team with eight rebounds.
Concordia will host Eastern Oregon on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. while The College of Idaho travels to Salem, Ore., to face Corban College.
“We have a lot of tough games coming up,” Barbarick said. “Tomorrow will be a big test but I know this team is excited to get back on the floor.”