Kelvin Potts led C of I with 20 points tonight in win over UM Western
CALDWELL, Idaho - Steve Peres hit back-to-back three-pointers, part of a key 13-2 College of Idaho second half run that erased a Montana Western lead, as the Coyotes rolled to an 82-60 victory in the final game of the 3rd Annual Wendy’s Holiday Classic inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
In the opening game tonight, Northwest Nazarene remained perfect all-time in the tournament, routing Portland Bible, 77-53.
The Yotes (4-5) used a barrage of 14 three-point baskets in the win, including connecting on seven of their first nine long-range attempts, building a 26-16 first half lead. However, The C of I would go one for their next 12 from outside the arc, allowing Western (10-4) to claw back in the game, taking a 50-48 lead with just over 12 minutes left on a JaRon Brown lay-up.
However, Peres came to the rescue, hitting two of his five three-pointers as part of a 15-point night, with Matt Ballenger capping the surge with a trey of his own to make it 61-52. The Bulldogs would get as close as 65-58 on a Layne Glaus jumper, but Brian Bergerson would score 11 of his 16 points off the bench in a closing 17-2 run that put the game away.
Kelvin Potts led the Coyotes with 20 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from outside the arc, with Noah Gottlieb notching 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Ballenger chipping in with 11 points.
Western was led by Glaus, who scored 18, but struggled all night from the field – converting just 32-percent of their field goals and 20-percent of their three point attempts.
The early game saw NNU (7-1) break open a tight game with a second half run for the second night in a row. The Crusaders led 51-43 with ten minutes left, but a 16-3 run, which included dunks from David Reeher and Louie Beech put away the NCCAA Wildcats (10-6).
Lateef Williams led three Crusaders in double figures with 15 points, with Kendall Gielow adding 14 points, and Beech 13. Michael Cooper led PBC with 14 points and ten rebounds.
The Coyotes return to Cascade Conference play next weekend, opening up a tussle with No. 5 ranked Oregon Tech on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.