Matt Ballenger scored a game-high 29 points in Coyotes win
NAMPA, Idaho - Shooting a season-high 71-percent in the opening half, The College of Idaho sprinted out to a 51-28 halftime lead and cruised to a 89-69 victory over Walla Walla University in the opening game of the 4th Annual NNU/C of I Holiday Classic, inside the Johnson Sports Center.
The Coyotes (4-8) broke an early 7-7 tie, as a Steve Peres 18-foot jumper started a 21-4 run that put the game away. Matt Ballenger had eight of his 21 first-half points in the spurt, with a Duncan Koga triple pushing the margin to 45-17 with six minutes left in the period.
The Wolves (0-12) got within 51-32 on a Tristan Greenidge runner early in the second half, but a Ballenger three-point play pushed the lead back above 20 for the rest of the afternoon. The C of I would lead by as many as 32, coming on a Gavin Gaskell triple, at 80-48.
All 13 C of I players got at least seven minutes of playing time – with no starter playing more than 20 minutes. Ballenger led all players with 29 points, with freshman Devan Telken coming off the bench to score 11 points with six assists. Gaskell had a career-high eight points – as 11 different Coyote scored four-or-more points.
WWU got a season high 19 points from Andrew Bailey, as the Wolves outscored the Yotes 25-2 at the foul line.
The C of I returns to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m., meeting Montana Western.