SPOKANE, Wash. – Charles Elzie III made a pair of free throws with five seconds left to lift visiting College of Idaho to a come-from-behind 77-75 win at Whitworth University in a non-conference men's basketball game on Wednesday night.

The Coyotes (3-6) overcame a 20-point halftime deficit to win the first meeting between the schools since the 1996 NAIA Division II championship game.  The teams will play again on Thursday at 6:00 pm.

The Pirates (0-1) led by as many as 22 points in the first half, but struggled with shot selection in the second period and lost momentum.

Liam Fitzgerald's put-back basket gave the Bucs their first double digit lead (18-8) nine minutes into the game and Tanner Fogle extended the margin to 39-18 with a three-pointer late in the half.  Fogle's third three of period led to Whitworth's largest lead of the game (44-22) before Ricardo Time scored at the buzzer to cut the margin to 44-24.

Whitworth still led 54-34 early in the second half, but the Coyotes used a 9-1 run over the next three minutes to cut the margin to 55-43.  Johnny Radford capped the spurt with C of I's first three-pointer of the game. Jalen Galloway's free throws trimmed the lead to 62-54 with just under ten minutes to play.  When Derek Wadsworth hit a trey with 4:20 to go, the Coyotes took their first lead of the game (68-67). 

Whitworth retook the lead with Jerry Twenge's three-pointer and continued to hold a slight edge until the final minute.  Time drew a foul after an offensive rebound and made two free throws with 40 seconds left to put his team up 75-73.  Fitzgerald was fouled after his own offensive board with 18.9 seconds left and made both to tie the game.

Elzie III drew a blocking foul with five seconds left to get the winning free shots.

Rowan Anderson was unable to get a clean look at the buzzer after crossing midcourt.

Galloway led five C of I players in double figures with 16 points.  Time and Elzie III had 15 apiece, while Jake O'Neil totaled 11 and led the team with seven boards.  Radford came off the bench for ten points.  After shooting only 35% in the first half, the Coyotes made 59% in the second period.  The visitors also finished with a 39-29 edge in rebounding.

Fitzgerald led Whitworth with 14 points, while Fogle and JT McDermott scored a dozen each.  Anderson had 10 points and a career-high nine assists.  The Pirates made 55% of their first half shots, but only 39% after the break.