Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - The scorched nets at both ends of the floor at the Johnson Sports Center will need to be replaced on Wednesday as Northwest Nazarene University defeated The College of Idaho 114-108 in overtime on Tuesday night in the second and final game of the 2009 United Heritage Tip Off Series.

 

Meeting for the 185th-time in the longest-running sports rivalry in the state of Idaho, the Crusaders (5-1) and Coyotes (3-4) both lit up the gym as The C of I finished 20-of-42 (47.6-percent) from the three point line and NNU was 13-of-25 (52-percent), combining for 33 triples on the night, breaking the 16-year old NNU single-game record for most combined three pointers made. 

The game, played in front of 2,020 fans and televised live on the NBC affiliate KTVB 24/7 network, featured 23 lead changes and 14 ties between the Canyon County rivals.

 

"Both teams really shot it really well tonight," commented NNU head coach Tim Hills, who earned his 499th career victory and will look for number 500 on Friday in Caldwell.  "We switched defenses several times, but we just couldn't get into their shooters enough...just an impressive shooting performance."

 

Drew Eisinger led the Crusaders with 28 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Steve Peres led all-scorers for the Coyotes with 29 points and five rebounds.

 

Five players made five or more treys in the game, as Peres (6 of 10), Matt Ballenger (6 of 14), and Noah Gottlieb (6 of 7) each made six triples for The C of I, while Eisinger (5 of 8) and Anthony Golden (5 of 9) had five each for NNU.  Gottlieb finished with 28 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for The C of I, while Ballenger had 25 points and five rebounds.

 

Golden scored 23 and Brian Barkdoll posted another double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.  Barkdoll led an NNU rebounding attack that out-rebounded the Coyotes 52-31.  Kendall Gielow added 12 points and five rebounds, while Lateef Williams scored 11 points.

 

The Coyotes, who played without starting post Craig McGee due to injury, finished at 50.6-percent (39-77) from the floor and 71-percent (10-14) from the free throw line.  The C of I committed only seven turnovers in the game, with only one turnover in the first half, and finished with 18 assists. 

 

NNU had 13 turnovers against 22 assists as point-guard Jamie Eisinger scored seven, had six rebounds, and handed-out five assists.  The Crusaders shot 50.7-percent (38-75) from the floor and 80-percent (25-31) from the free throw line.

 

The Crusaders led 52-50 at the half and would see the Coyotes reverse the exact same score in the second half to force the overtime when Gottlieb made a driving lay-up with only three seconds left to play in regulation to tie the score at 102-102. 

 

NNU would shoot 4-of-6 in the overtime to earn the win and hold The C of I to 2-of-10 shooting in the extra frame.

 

A counting game for the Crusaders, the Coyotes officially played tonight's game as an exhibition, as the NAIA allows their member schools to play two exhibition games against NCAA opponents.