Coyote Defense Clamps Down in 71-58 Home Win
CALDWELL, Idaho –
Joey Nebeker and
Talon Pinckney combined for 26 second half points, as the College of Idaho clamped down defensively for a 71-58 victory over the Evergreen State College inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Yotes rallied from a 28-25 halftime deficit, holding the Geoducks (5-16, 2-13 CCC) to just 33-percent shooting from the field – including 4-of-21 from outside the arc – in the win.
TESC pulled ahead 37-32 on a Dalton Groenewold 3-pointer five minutes into the second half, but the Coyotes (16-8, 9-5) held the Geoducks to just two made field goals over the next 12 minutes. Consecutive lay-ups by
Aitor Zubizarreta started the rally for C of I, with back-to-back steals and highlight-reel dunks from Nebeker inched the Yotes ahead 40-38. Pinckney had a lay-up, a step-back 15-foot jumper, and a 3-point play to extend the lead to 55-47 – the start of a 13-0 run that put the game away.
C of I got two steals and lay-ups from Pinckney in an 8-0 run early in the first half that gave the Yotes a 10-5 lead, with TESC countering seven Quinton Whitfield points in an 11-2 rally that gave the Geoducks a 22-17 lead – with the Washington school taking a 28-25 lead to the break.
Nebeker finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, making 6-of-9 field goal attempts, with Pinckney tying a season-high with 19 points. Zubizarreta scored 13 points with four of the Yotes 15 steals – as C of I forced 24 turnovers that led to 26 points.
No Geoduck player scored in double-figures, as Whitfield led TESC with nine points and six rebounds off the bench. Groenewold and Jonathan Jack-Nixon each had eight points, with C of I holding leading scorer, Taylor Drey to just seven points and seven turnovers.
The Yotes return to action next weekend with two road games in Portland – Friday at Warner Pacific and Saturday at Multnomah.
NOTES – C of I has now won six-straight home games and are 9-1 in the Activities Center this season; the Coyotes held their seventh opponent under 60 points this season – recording a perfect 7-0 mark in those games; C of I made a season-low four 3-pointers and tied a season-low with 13 3-point attempts.