Yotes Rally For Exhibition Win over UC-Colorado Springs
NAMPA, Idaho – Demetrius Perkins broke a tie with a steal and dunk with 21 seconds remaining, helping The College of Idaho rally for a 78-74 exhibition win over Colorado-Colorado Springs at the Johnson Sports Center.
The Coyotes (6-2), who trailed by as many as 15 in the first half, withstood a missed three-pointer by Alex Koehler in the waning seconds – with Josh Wilson clinching the game with two free throws with two seconds to play.
The Division II Mountain Lions (2-1) took a 45-30 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the first half, but watched as C of I clawed back in the game. Back-to-back Joe Vaz baskets and a Zach Peterson lay-up capped an 11-2 run that gave the Yotes their first lead of the night at 66-64. A Nolan Baker jumper with 4:15 left gave UCCS a 72-69 lead – but the Mountain Lions did not convert a field goal the rest of the night. Vaz scored five straight points to give C of I a 74-72 lead, but two Dalton Patten free throws knotted the score at 74-74 – setting up the wild finish.
Vaz led five C of I scorers in double-figures with 16 points, making 7-of-11 field goals. Wilson had 15 points, six assists, and six rebounds in the victory, with Taylor Pruett scoring 14, Jordan O’Byrne adding 11, and Perkins 10. The Yotes hit 57-percent of their second half field goals.
Darius Pardner led UCCS with 18 points, with Patten adding 16 – as the Mountain Lions lost despite a commanding 41-30 edge on the glass.
The Yotes return to action tomorrow, meeting Montana Western at 3 p.m.