Late Rally Leads to COI Victory over NCU
CALDWELL, Idaho – A tenacious College of Idaho defensive effort held Northwest Christian without a made field goal over a 10 minute stretch of the second half, as the Yotes used a game-changing 19-3 run to take command, rallying for a 71-62 victory over the Beacons.
The No. 21 ranked Coyotes (16-5, 7-2 CCC) overcame a 12-point second half deficit to improve to 9-0 at home this season, while winning for the first time in six tries when trailing at the break. The Yotes currently hold a one-game lead over Southern Oregon, Concordia, and Warner Pacific in the loop standings.
NCU (11-8, 5-4) held a 33-28 lead at halftime and opening the second stanza on a 10-3 surge, including back-to-back three's from Coleton Baker and a thunderous Spencer Coleman dunk, to lead 43-31.
Coleman connected on a jumper with just under 16 minutes remaining – but the Beacons went 0-for-7 and committed seven turnovers in the fateful 10 minute stretch. A Jordan O'Byrne runner and two free throws got the Yotes even at 51-51, with Ben Van Lith scoring two of his career-high 22 points on a lay-up off a Sydney Donaldson steal to give C of I the lead for good. A Van Lith tip-in off a missed free throw made it 56-51, with O'Byrne draining a corner three to give the Yotes an eight point cushion, with the hosts making 21-of-32 second half free throws to ice the win.
O'Byrne scored 14 points in the victory, with Donaldson adding 10 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Josh Wilson had eight points, 11 rebounds and five steals, with Joe Vaz adding eight rebounds, as C of I won despite going just 4-of-23 from outside the arc.
NCU got 21 points and 13 rebounds from Coleman, with Baker adding 19. Leading scorer, Austin Kuemper, played just five minutes and left with a back injury.
C of I returns to action next weekend with road games at Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech.