PORTLAND, Ore. – College of Idaho scorched the nets in the second half at a 66 percent clip on the way to a 87-76 win over Warner Pacifc at Bart Valentine Court on Saturday night.
The Short Story The visiting Coyotes won for the fourth-straight time, rallying from a nine point first half deficit to win for just the second time in 11 tries at WPC. C of I hit 21 of 32 field goal attempts after haltime, draining 13 3-point buckets. Warner Pacific held a slight advantage through most of the first half, leading by as much as nine points (31-22) and by five at the break. The second half belonged to the Yotes thanks to dead-eye shooting with Aitor Zubizaretta the main culprit (5 of 8 from three point range).
How it Happened• After trading the lead several times in the early going, WPC used a 12-2 run to take a nine point lead with 4:01 showing on the first half clock.• C of I responded and cut the gap down to two points and trailed by five (36-31) at the break.• Spencer Bankofier splashed a triple to give the Knights a slim one point lead (48-47) at the 13:59 mark of the second half.• That's when C of I heated up, and a trio of makes from distance pushed the Yotes out to a 61-50 advantage over the next two minutes.• Warner Pacific never completely recovered from the surge, and eventullay trailed by as many as 18 points.
• The Knights kept fighting however, and several steals followed by clutch baskets reduced the deficit down to 79-73 with 1:40 to play.
• The Yotes made enough free throws down the stretch however, and a pair of breakout dunks from Joy Nebeker sealed the gme for C of I.
