Matt Ballenger had 20 points in the C of I loss
ATHERTON, Calif. - A 10-0 run broke open a tight game midway through the second half, as Menlo College used a torrid shooting clip in the final 20 minutes to hang on and upend The College of Idaho, 73-71, in Game 2 of the Lamont Ramsey Classic.
The loss for the Coyotes (2-6) was their fourth in a row and their third this season in overtime or by two points or fewer.
After trailing 27-24 at the break, the host Oaks (1-2) responded, taking the lead for good early in the second half on a pair of Drew Davis free throws. A triple by Julian Harris sparked the ten-point run by Menlo, building a 47-34 lead with 12 minutes to go – as the Oaks connected on 73-percent of their field goal attempts in the period.
The Yotes would use a frantic finish to nearly stun the home crowd, as The C of I trailed 68-58 with less than four minutes to go, but got a Kelly McCarty bucket and a pair of Matt Ballenger free throws to cut the margin to six. A Tyler Young deuce with just over a minute to play cut the deficit to 68-64, with a McCarty trey with 26 seconds left cutting the deficit to 71-69. Harris hit a pair of free throws for the Oaks, but Ballenger answered with a basket and the Yotes forced a turnover to set up a final chance, but Ballenger missed a game-winning trey at the buzzer.
Ballenger scored 20 points in the loss for the Coyotes, with Peres adding 18 points and five rebounds. Harris led all players with 24 points, with Nick McCullar adding 16 points and Davis 12 for Menlo. The game was won at the line by the Oaks, who outscored The C of I, 24-9 at the stripe.