Coyotes Upset No. 2 Southern Oregon, 95-83
CALDWELL, Idaho – Demetrius Perkins scored 20 points and Josh Wilson narrowly missed a triple-double, helping The College of Idaho stun No. 2 ranked Southern Oregon, 95-83, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The victory for the Yotes (12-4, 3-1 CCC) was their third in a row - recording their first-ever home win against a Top-2 team. C of I defeated No. 1 Eastern Oregon last year and No. 2 Siena Heights in the 2001 NAIA Division II National Tournament.
"This was a very physical game and we never once backed down," said C of I head coach Scott Garson, who watched his team improve to 7-0 at home this season. "We stuck together throughout and beat a very good and well coached team in Southern Oregon."
The Yotes hit eight first half three-pointers to take a 49-37 lead at the break, but the Raiders (13-2, 3-1) cut the margin to 58-50 on a Kyle Tedder jumper four minutes into the second half. After two Sydney Donaldson free throws pushed the lead back to 10, Donaldson was whistled for a flagrant foul on a drive by Eric Thompson, with him and Tedder each drawing a technical foul in the aftermath.
Thompson split his free throws, but momentum shifted to the Yotes, as Perkins hit 3-of-4 free throws, Ben Van Lith converted a fast break basket, and both Wilson and Taylor Pruett each knocked down short jumpers, as the lead exploded to 70-53 with 11 minutes to play.
"We played together as a team," said Wilson, who scored 13 points, tied a season-high with 11 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds. "We are creating great momentum heading into 2014."
Southern played catch-up, getting within 81-71 with five minutes remaining on two Thompson free throws, but C of I connected on 20-of-28 free throws in the second half to snap the visitors 11-game win streak.
The two teams traded runs in the opening 20 minutes, as a Wilson three-point play highlighted a 10-2 run to give the Yotes a 20-12 edge. SOU countered, getting three's from Thompson, Tedder, and Jeff Bush in a 14-5 run to regain the lead. The Raiders led 28-27 when Van Lith hit a trey and a pair of inside baskets to fuel a 13-2 C of I run that gave the Coyotes the lead for good.
"The key was the push game," said Garson. "It started with Josh Wilson pushing the ball up the floor on makes and misses, getting us into an offensive rhythm. I was really proud of our effort defensively, holding Southern Oregon below their season average in field goal percentage and we fought hard on the boards."
Perkins was 8-of-10 from the foul line for the Yotes, with Donaldson scoring 17 points in just 13 minutes of action. Van Lith had a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench, with Pruett scoring 15 points and adding 11 boards.
Thompson, the CCC's preseason Player of the Year, had 25 points and 14 rebounds, with David Sturner adding 15 points in the loss.
C of I returns to action after the Christmas break, beginning a tough three-game road stretch on Jan. 3 at Warner Pacific.