CALDWELL, Idaho – Demetrius Perkins scored a team high 19 points, including a game winning three-pointer with just over a minute remaining as the No.2 ranked College of Idaho knocked off No.13 ranked Concordia University 73-71 inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
"Coach ran a play for me and I knew if I had a little space, I was going to shoot it. He gave me enough confidence and I knew it was going to go in when it left my hands," senior guard Demetrius Perkins said.
The Coyotes (15-3, 4-2) opened the game on a quick 8-2 run, including three pointers from Joey Nebeker and Sydney Donaldson.
Carrying a 32-31 advantage with just over a minute remaining in the half, the Coyotes closed the period on an 8-2 run, including their eighth triple of the stanza.
Early in the second half, Thomas Pierce cut the Cavalier (12-4, 3-3) deficit to 40-38. C of I answered the Concordia run with one of their own, capped by a Josh Wilson three to extend their lead to 50-40 with 17-minutes left.
Esvan Middleton scored a game high 21 points, including a go-ahead layup with 8:31 remaining as Concordia grabbed their first lead since the 13-minute mark of the first period.
Tyler Vazquez scored the final Concordia field-goal with 4:06 left in the game to draw level with the Coyotes at 69.
The Cavaliers grabbed their final lead of the game after Vazquez split a pair of free-throws with just over a minute remaining, giving Concordia a 70-69 advantage.
"Our defense down the stretch was huge for us. We got stops when we needed them and demonstrated tremendous toughness tonight," Garson said.
The final Coyote field-goal was the eventual game-winner as Perkins drilled the 14th C of I triple to give the Yotes the lead for good.
Trailing 72-70 with 10 seconds left, Vazquez drove to the hole and was fouled but unable to make both free-throws. The Cavaliers fouled Perkins who was also unable to convert both attempts from the charity stripe, giving Concordia one final possession with 4.1 seconds remaining.
Vazquez sprinted the ball up the floor and took it straight to the hoop but the ball rolled off the rim as the horn sounded, handing the Coyotes their 26th straight win at home.
Wilson finished the night with 13 points and five rebounds. Perkins flirted with a triple-double finishing one rebound and three assists shy. Nebeker recorded 10 points and nine rebounds to go with 5 assists. Donaldson finished the contest with nine points including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep.
In the win, the Coyotes shot a blistering 74-percent from three-point territory making up for a rough night at the foul line where they converted just 7-of-19 attempts.
"Phenomenal shooting from the perimeter certainly made the difference tonight. We might want to look at shooting our free throws from the three point line in our next game," Garson said.
The Coyotes will put their home win streak on the line next Friday night when they take on Eastern Oregon at 7:30 p.m.
"I don't know how it feels to lose at home; I hope I never have to experience that," Perkins said. "We just have to keep working on the defensive end and rally behind this great community."