Ahmaad Cook scored 13 in NU win
Northwest Moves Into 1st-Place Tie in CCC Race
Mike Safford - SID
CALDWELL, Idaho - Northwest University used a 26-4 run spanning both halves to pull into a three-way tie atop the Cascade Conference, defeating The College of Idaho, 68-53, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The No. 11 ranked Eagles (21-2, 11-2 CCC) erased a nine-point first half deficit to complete a season sweep of the Yotes - joining Oregon Tech and Warner Pacific in first-place with three weeks left in the regular-season.
The Coyotes (8-16, 3-10) controlled the first 10 minutes of the game, as a Sydney Donaldson converted a three-point play with 10:20 left in the period, giving The C of I a 21-12 lead. However, NU turned the tide with defensive pressure over the next 15 minutes - forcing seven Coyote turnovers and limiting the hosts to 1-of-12 shooting from the field. Back-to-back treys from Rich Skillman and Ryan Dornik gave the Eagles their first lead at 25-23, part of a 12-0 run, with a Skillman triple at the horn pushing the lead to 32-25.
Northwest held the Yotes without a field goal for the first six minutes of the second half, as two Michael Greene baskets and an Ahmaad Cook fast break basket extended the lead to 38-25. A Duncan Koga jumper got the Coyotes within 40-31, but three's by Cook and Dornik put the game away for NU.
Cook and Jordan Call each scored 13 points in the win, with Skillman and Dornik each tallying 12. The Eagles sealed the win by hitting 16-of-19 free throws in the second half, while holding a 36-26 rebound edge.
Donaldson scored a career-high 20 points in the loss for the Coyotes, with Rodney Delgardo scoring 10.
The C of I hits the road next weekend with road games at Northwest Christian and Corban.