Coyotes Shake Off Rust, Outlast Multnomah, 93-85
CALDWELL, Idaho – Playing for the first time in 20 days, The College of Idaho men's basketball team outlasted Multnomah University, 93-85, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Yotes (6-7) saw a 16-point halftime team erased inside the final three minutes, but back-to-back baskets by Ricardo Time keyed an 8-0 run to close the game, as C of I improved to 12-0 all-time against the Lions.
Facing a team without a player taller than 6-foot-5, the Yotes dominated the paint – scoring 64 of their 93 points inside – but MU (0-3) countered with 16 made 3-pointers, including 10 in the second half, rallying from a 50-34 deficit at the break.
The tandem of Jake O'Neil and Jalen Galloway were the story for the Coyotes – combining for 24 first half points – including a Galloway 3-point play and an O'Neil put back basket that built C of I a 36-22 lead.
MU had their own duo – as both Zach Richardson and Forrest Smith each hit five 3-pointers, with a Smith triple pulling the Lions within 58-52 with 15 minutes left.
O'Neil kept the visitors at length, scoring four straight baskets to help push the lead back to 10 points – only to see MU chip away at the deficit, getting even at 85-85 on a Richardson leaner with 2:14 remaining.
Enter Time, who converted a running 10-footer in the lane and following an MU miss, scored on a pretty drive in the paint to extend the lead to 89-85 – with Galloway and O'Neil icing the contest with late free throws.
The Yotes made 32-of-55 2-point shots on the night and held a 52-26 rebound margin, knocking down 14-of-18 free throws in the victory.
Galloway had a season-high 28 points, making all nine of his free throws, with O'Neil scoring 24 points and adding a team-best 14 rebounds. Time had 15 points and five rebounds, with Charles Elzie adding eight rebounds and five assists.
Richardson led all scorers with 29 points, making 11-of-14 field goals, with Smith scoring 23 points with nine assists.
The two teams meet against tomorrow at 7 p.m. – with the game marking Senior Night for C of I, as five senior student-athletes (Time, Ivory Miles-Williams, Jacob Russell, Otto Taylor and Connor Desaulniers) will be honored in a pregame ceremony.