Yotes Win in Overtime Over San Diego Christian
NAMPA, Idaho - Five College of Idaho players scored in double figures and the Yotes rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to force overtime, as The College of Idaho stopped San Diego Christian, 88-85, in the opening game of the Wendy’s Classic at the Johnson Sports Center.
The Hawks (3-4) built a 51-39 lead with 14 minutes remaining on a Jesse LeBeau trey, but the Coyotes rallied, using a 23-5 run over a six minute stretch, capped by a Craig McGee lay-up, to take a 62-56 lead.
SDCC would respond, retaking the lead at 70-68 on a Craig Jackson runner, with 13 seconds left. The Coyotes (5-6) would hand the ball to Kelvin Potts, who went coast to coast for a lay-up with five seconds remaining to send the game to the extra session.
In overtime, a triple by LeBeau gave the Hawks their final lead at 80-79, but a Bryan Champ three-point play gave the Yotes the lead for good. The Coyotes would hit nine-consecutive free throws down the stretch to ice the victory.
Steffen Spinks led The C of I with 18 points, with Potts adding 15. McGee had 14 points, Champ 13, and Brian Bergerson 12 in the victory – as the Yotes committed just two turnovers after halftime. Paul Wolf led all scorers with 19 for the Hawks, with James Green scoring 16 points and pulling down a game-high 16 rebounds.
The Yotes, winners of four of their last five games, meet Montana Western in tomorrow’s early game at 5 p.m. UMW lost an 80-78 heartbreaker to host Northwest Nazarene in tonight’s nightcap.