CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University Men's Basketball Team shot 28 percent from the floor for the contest as the Mountaineers fell to the Yotes of College of Idaho, 73-58, in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Semifinals presented by U.S. Bank on Saturday evening.
Bryan McGriff led the way for the Mountaineers (15-15) with 31 points. McGriff collected 16 rebounds for a double-double.
Demetrius Perkins led the Yotes with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Josh Wilson followed 13 points while Joey Nebeker added 11 points.
Eastern Oregon's offense came out hot against the No. 4 College of Idaho Yotes. EOU started the game by scoring seven of the first nine points, and grew their lead to seven points, 11-4, after a McGriff layup.
After the Yotes started to make a run, the Mountaineers grew their lead to eight points, 15-7, the biggest lead of the half for EOU, after a
Michael Crane tip-in.
College of Idaho continued to battle and trimmed the Mountaineers' lead down to as little as two points, multiple times. Each time the Yotes got within two points, EOU grew their lead back to a six point lead. The Yotes closed the Mountaineers lead to one, 24-23, after a Joey Nebeker 3-pointer.
EOU continued to lead and were up by two points, 31-29, after a
Christian Parrott free throw. However, College of Idaho scored the last five points of the half, and took a 34-31 lead into halftime over the Mountaineers.
The Yotes opened the second half by scoring the first five points and built an eight point lead, 39-31, after a Sydney Donaldson layup. The Yotes defense played a strong second half as they held the Mountaineers to five points, over the first seven minutes of the half.
With College of Idaho leading, 42-36, the Yotes went on an 8-0 run taking their lead to 50-36. EOU continued to battle back and trimmed the lead down to 10 points, 60-50, with five minutes to go in the game.
The Mountaineers could not get any closer and the Yotes stretched their lead to 20 points, 73-53, after going on a 13-3 run. EOU scored the last five points of the game, but it was not enough as the Mountaineers fell, 73-58.
