(Lewiston, ID) A 15-0 opening run by the Yotes proved to be the difference maker on Friday when Warrior Men’s Basketball dropped a 73-60 decision to No. 4 College of Idaho.
“C of I really came out and dominated the game the first few possessions and really ran away with the game,” coach Austin Johnson said. “Credit to them, they are playing like a championship team. Our guys are definitely capable of playing better and I’m excited to see what we do with the opportunity tomorrow.”
The loss drops LC State to 17-6 on the season and 12-5 in Cascade Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
C of I opened the contest with a 15-point run before a jumper by Alton Hamilton and 3 by Dylan Skaife put the Warriors on the board. Baskets by Josh Salguero and Jayceon Smith made it 28-11 before a triple by Smith had the difference at 28-14 at 12:11. Smith snagged a steal and took it back before Gorden Boykins scored to make it a 10-point game at 28-18 midway through.
Salguero brought the score within single-digits and Taden King kept the game within reach, 32-23, at 7:38. C of I regained its footing to pull ahead by a wide margin as tallies by Hamilton and MaCarhy Morris added to the LC State total. C of I led 45-31 at the break.
Hamilton and Morris each scored to start the offense for the Warriors in the second half. Another basket by Morris and one by Boykins brought LC State within 10 and a free throw by John Lustig had the deficit at 51-42 at 12:12. Another run by C of I made the difference at 59-45 with 9:20 to play.
Morris and Hamilton combined for four straight points. Smith, Peyton Nordland and Lustig cut the difference back to 10, 70-60, in the final two minutes, but the Yotes took control in the final minutes.
STAT RECAP
Morris led LC State with 14 points and Hamilton tallied 12 points with eight rebounds. Boykins and Smith each added nine points and Smith dished out four assists.
The Warriors shot 44.2% from the field and had 25 points off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Warriors wrap up the weekend on Saturday with a contest at Eastern Oregon starting at 5 p.m.