Matt Ballenger's game winner helps Yotes past Westminster
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Matt Ballenger canned a three with just three seconds remaining, as The College of Idaho upset NAIA Division I No. 9 ranked Westminster College, 55-52, at the Westminster Holiday Classic.
The win for the Coyotes (2-2) ended a five-game losing streak to the Griffins and was their first victory over Westminster in the Beehive State since 2004.
After a first half that saw six lead changes and three ties, the Griffins (3-4) used a 7-0 run, capped by a Weston Anderson lay-up to build a 47-39 with nine minutes remaining. The hosts would lead 50-43 with 6:31 left, connected on 1-of-8 shots from the floor the rest of the way, as the Coyotes ended the game on a 12-2 run.
Jabari McIntosh started the spurt with a bucket, followed by four straight Craig McGee free throws, with Brian Bergerson canning a trey with 1:36 left to give the Coyotes a 52-50 lead. Anderson would counter for the Griffins with a jumper to tie the score, but following a pair of defensive stops, Ballenger nailed the 23-footer game-winner. Anderson had one final heave from half court, but came up short.
McGee led the Yotes with 21 points and seven rebounds, with Ballenger adding 16 points and seven boards. The Yotes won despite two of their top scorers - Kelvin Potts and Steve Peres going a combined 0-for-9 from the field.
Anderson led Westminster with 17 points, with Ben Walker scoring ten. The Yotes limted the Griffins to 7-of-31 shooting from outside the arc, including a 2-for-11 evening from leading scorer, Blair Prowse.
The Coyotes close out their November schedule tomorrow, meeting Carroll College in the Classic's early game at 5:30 p.m.