22 From Berryhill Leads Yotes Past Multnomah, 108-93
CALDWELL, Idaho – Gibson Berryhill canned six 3-pointers, part of a career-high 22-point night, helping the College of Idaho race past Multnomah University, 108-93, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The win for the third-ranked Yotes (24-3) clinched a home court date in the quarterfinals of the CCC Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, on Feb. 20. Season ticket holders can purchase their reserved seats to the playoff game beginning tomorrow night after the 7:30 p.m. regular-season home finale vs. Warner Pacific in the ticket office.
Facing the No. 1 scoring offense in the NAIA Division II, the Yotes raced to a 10-0 lead in the first two minutes. Keun Palu-Thompson converted a 3-point play and a fast-break lay-up, with Talon Pinckney driving to the basket for a deuce and Jake Bruner draining a triple to key the early surge.
The Lions (13-14, 4-11 CCC), playing without the NAIA's leading scorer, Justin Martin, battled back – cutting the margin to 19-15 following a Brett Blackstock 3-pointer and were down just 30-25 after a Zach Richardson long-ball with eight minutes left in the period.
C of I came right back, scoring 14 of the next 16 points, as Nate Bruneel canned a 3-pointer, added an alley-oop dunk and closed the run with a 3-point play – as the Yotes led 55-38 at the half.
MU made a final push early in the second half, whittling the margin to 63-55 following a Stepan Zavydovskyy baseline dunk. Berryhill took over from there, draining three consecutive 3-pointers, part of a 15-3 run that put the game away – as the hosts ballooned the margin to as many as 25 inside the final five minutes.
Berryhill made his first six field goal attempts and finished the night 8-of-11 from the floor. Bruneel scored 21, Palu-Thompson had 15 points, with Saunders adding 14. Pinckney was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, scoring 10 points with seven assists and four steals, with Connor Desaulniers leading all players with 10 rebounds. C of I made 60-percent of their first half field goal attempts and finished the night at 53-percent, while holding a 47-32 rebound margin.
The 108 points scored by C of I were the most by the Yotes in a conference game since the 2013-14 season (114 vs. Evergreen) – a season the Coyotes scored over 108 points three times in league counters.
Richardson led MU with 31 points – making 7-of-16 3-point attempts – as the Lions finished the night 17-of-40 from long range. Blackstock had 28 and Ben Grandle scored nine in the loss.