CALDWELL, Idaho - Evergreen led at the half but couldn't hold off a strong second half performance by host College of Idaho as the No. 3-ranked Coyotes pulled out a 103-88 victory Saturday in Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball action at J.A. Albertson Activities Center.

College of Idaho, the defending conference champion, is now 13-1 overall and 2-0 in the CCC, while Evergreen falls to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in conference.

The Geoducks came in knowing that the much bigger Coyotes would provide a big challenge, but they were certainly up to it throughout the game's first 20 minutes and well into the second half.

Alix Hernandez got the Geoducks on the board first with a jumper, and they stayed in front for all but a few minutes in the opening period.

Trailing 19-14, College of Idaho eventually rallied to take a 33-27 advantage on Josh Wilson's basket with six minutes remaining, but Evergreen scored nine unanswered points, five by Frankie Johnson, to lead 36-33. The visitors eventually took a 43-41 lead into the intermission.

Johnson hit a three-point shot 14 seconds into the second half to put the Geoducks back on top by five points, and when Jordan Dam hit a jumper they had their final lead of the night, 62-60, with 12:24 on the clock.

The 'Yotes replied with eight consecutive points to take the lead for good, and they eventually pulled away in the closing minutes.

Johnson had his second straight outstanding game for the Geoducks, scoring a game-high 23 points. Dam and Hernandez added 11 points and Marquise Doss had 10 for the Geoducks, who shot 47 percent (34-for-72) overall and 44 percent (10-for-23) from beyond the arc. Hernandez led the Geoducks with seven rebounds, but C of I enjoyed a 50-33 advantage in that category.

Joey Nebeker tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds and Wilson added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the winners, who shot 49 percent (38-for-78) overall and 90 percent (18-for-20) from the free throw line.

Evergreen is back in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it travels to Parkland to face Pacific Lutheran in a non-conference game.