BOX SCORE
CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho men's basketball team picked up a big win over rival No. 8 Eastern Oregon University, 78-68, Friday.
The Yotes (8-10) (5-2) won their fifth straight game behind 34 points from Matt Ballenger. The junior scored half of C of I's points as he shot 12 of 21 from the field, including 6 of 21 from behind the perimeter. He added a team-high nine rebounds.
Ballenger broke The College of Idaho school record for steals in a career in the win. He picked up his 83rd career steal Friday. Ballenger became only the fourth player to record eight steals in a game in College of Idaho history when he had eight steals in the Yotes' last game against Concordia. Friday the Nampa, Idaho native finished with nine steals. Current C of I assistant coach, Matt Muniz, was previously the only player in school history to achieve eight steals in a game twice.
The Mountaineers fell for the first time this season when they outrebounded their opponent, had their bench outscore the opponents' bench, and led at halftime. College of Idaho also became the first team this season to shoot 50 percent from the field against EOU. The Yotes finished 50 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range.
After EOU led 32-30 at halftime, it had its largest lead of the game at the 15:01 mark of the second half when it led by five points. College of Idaho went on a run midway through the second half and took its largest lead with 6:52 remaining in regulation by 11 points. The game featured three ties and four lead changes.
The C of I win ended a three game win streak in the series for Eastern Oregon. The last Mountaineer loss in the series came on Jan. 6, 2009, in Caldwell. Eastern had won seven of the previous eight meetings. EOU has now won three of its last six games in the J.A. Alberston Activities Center against the Yotes.
Jamar Johnson scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Mountaineers (13-3) (5-2).
Jeff Ranstrom finished with his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Thomas McCarthy and
Anthony Brown each added 10 points off of the bench. Eastern's bench outscored College of Idaho's bench, 32-17.
Cody Thurmond had five assists.
The Mountaineers shot 37 percent from the field and made 8 of their 25 three-point attempts. EOU was 20 of 30 from the free throw line. College of Idaho outscored Eastern Oregon, 38-18, in points in the paint and 16-8 in points off of turnovers. The Mountaineers had a 17-3 advantage in second chance points. C of I had 20 assists to Eastern's 12.
Miguel Rodriguez added 11 points and threw a game-high six assists for C of I. Krispin Banks and Kelly McCarty each finished with 10 points respectively. It was the first victory in nine games this season versus a nationally-ranked foe for the Yotes. The College of Idaho now has three wins over a top 10 team over the past two seasons.
No. 13 Oregon Tech knocked off No. 11 Northwest University in Klamath Falls, Ore., 78-63, in other Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Eastern travels to Northwest Christian in Eugene, Ore. next Friday for its next game. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff and will have live video and stats on EOUSports.com.
COLLEGE OF IDAHO – EASTERN OREGON POSTGAME NOTES
- Friday's meeting was the 165th matchup between The College of Idaho and Eastern.
- The Yotes now have a 103-62 lead in the all-time series.
- Eastern Oregon's 68 points was the second fewest points it has scored this season. It entered the game leading the conference with an average of 87.5 points per game.
- The Mountaineers were held to a season-low 37 percent shooting from the field.
- Before the game EOU was 7-0 in games on Fridays this season.
- Eastern has not lost two games in a row under Isaac Williams as head coach.
