Zubizarreta Scores 21, Yotes Win at No. 24 Warner Pacific
PORTLAND, Ore. –
Aitor Zubizarreta scored nine of his game-high 21 points in a 14-2 second half run, as the College of Idaho stunned Cascade Conference leader and No. 24 Warner Pacific, 87-76, at Bart Valentine Court inside C.C. Perry Gymnasium.
The Coyotes (11-6, 6-2 CCC) won for the fourth-straight time, rallying from a nine point first half deficit to win for just the second time in 11 tries at WPC. C of I hit 66-percent of their second half field goals, draining 13 3-point buckets.
The Knights (11-5, 6-2) used a 12-2 first half run to build a 31-22 lead with four minutes remaining in the period, only to watch Zubizarreta splash a trey and
Emanuel Morgan convert three consecutive lay-ups to pull C of I within 33-31.
The two rivals traded leads early in the second half, with a Spencer Bankofier triple giving WPC a 48-47 advantage.
Joey Nebeker responded with a 3-pointer of his own, starting the game-changing run. Two Zubizarreta treys bookended a Nebeker lay-up, with the third Zubizarreta triple giving the visitors a 61-50 lead.
A Taylor Young basket cut the gap to 63-57, but five consecutive points by
Curtis Brever started an 16-2 run that gave the Yotes their largest lead at 77-59 with 4:29 to play.
The hosts would not quit, taking advantage of four C of I turnovers and two missed front ends of 1-and-1's to create a 14-2 surge that cut the deficit to 79-73 – but two late Nebeker dunks sealed the Coyote victory.
Zubizarreta was 5-of-8 from 3-point range, adding six rebounds and four assists in the road win. Nebeker had 19 points,
Marck Coffin had 15 points and nine rebounds, with Morgan scoring 12 points, adding 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals.
Young led the Knights with 17 points, with De'Jon Bowman logging 13 points and 12 rebounds.
C of I returns home on Friday night, hosting nationally-ranked Southern Oregon at 7:30 p.m.