Yotes Move into CCC Title Game With 77-57 Win Over OIT
CALDWELL, Idaho – Taylor Pruett scored 20 points and added 11 rebounds, leading College of Idaho to a 77-57 victory over Oregon Tech in the semifinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank.
The No. 3 ranked Coyotes (27-5) won for the 14th-straight time and earned the right to host Tuesday night’s championship game against sixth-seeded Northwest Christian, a 71-67 victor at Northwest University.
Leading just 41-37 early in the second half, the Yotes held the Owls (17-15) to just one made field goal over a five minute stretch – as C of I connected on 8-of-8 free throws and Josh Wilson drained a pair of 3’s in the 16-2 run that broke the game open.
C of I sealed the game on the defensive end, holding OIT to 29-percent shooting in the second half and 1-of-13 shooting from outside the arc.
Demetrius Perkins had 14 points in the victory, including 8-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. Wilson and Sydney Donaldson each scored nine, with Zach Peterson and Joe Vaz each tallying eight.
Tanner Manselle led Tech with 12 points, with Derek Evans adding eight points and six rebounds – as 11 different players scored for OIT.
C of I will play in their first CCC title game since the 2005 season and will host the league championship game for the first time since 2004.
Ticket information for the game will be available at YoteAthletics.com – with reserved tickets $12.00 and general admission tickets $7.00.
NOTES – C of I moved to 10-6 all-time against OIT in playoff games and ended a three-game losing streak to Tech in the postseason…the win marks the first three-game sweep of OIT since the 2003-04 season…it is the third time C of I has won 27 games in a year – with the 1987 team winning 28 and the 1996 team winning 31…the 14-game win streak is the second-longest in program history, behind the 18-game win streak set by the 1954-55 squad, led by R.C. Owens and Elgin Baylor…No. 1 ranked Cardinal Stritch, No. 2 Indiana Southeast, and No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan all lost in their respective conference tournaments tonight.