NIC men triumph in home opener

COEUR d'ALENE - Chris Sarbaugh, a sophomore transfer from Gonzaga University, was 5 for 5 from the field for 12 points and had a team-high four assists as the 24th-ranked North Idaho College men's basketball team defeated the Gonzaga club team 80-54 on Tuesday night in their home opener at Rolly Williams Court.

Keon Lewis scored a game-high 13 points, Michael Middlebrooks 12 points for NIC (5-1), which travels to Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore., on Friday.

"That's how we're going to be most of the year," NIC coach Jared Phay said. "It was nice to be home and have a crowd rooting for you. I thought we played well. Gonzaga was well organized and good competition for us."

GONZAGA CLUB

Madu Cole 3-6 0-0 7, D.J. Williams 3-10 0-0 8, Dylan Salay 3-5 3-3 9, Jon Vimmerstedt 0-3 0-0 0, Mohammed Sambou 3-7 1-4 8, Robby Sanders 1-8 0-0 3, Matt Beucherie 2-8 0-0 5, Robert Frame 2-4 1-2 6, Riley Wiggins 1-1 2-2 4, Pierce Hudson 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 20-55 7-11 54.

NORTH IDAHO

Chris Sarbaugh 5-5 0-0 12, Michael Middlebrooks 5-8 2-2 12, Mikey Hope 3-7 0-0 6, James Webb 3-7 0-0 6, Kaj Sherman 5-7 0-2 10, Jordan McCloud 2-3 1-2 5, Jalil Abdul-Bassit 3-7 4-5 10, Jason Wheelock 0-1 0-1 0, Andrew Baracco 1-2 0-0 2, Keon Lewis 6-9 1-2 13, Dalen Erickson 0-2 0-0 0, Nathan Rathbun 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 34-59 10-16 80.

Halftime - NIC 46-32. 3-point goals - GC 7-23 (Cole 1-1, Williams 2-6, Salay 0-1, Sambou 1-3, Sanders 1-4, Beucherie 1-5, Frame 1-3), NIC 2-9 (Sarbaugh 2-2, Webb 0-1, Abdul-Bassit 0-2, Wheelock 0-1, Baracco 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Erickson 0-1). Rebounds - GU 24 (Beucherie 6), NIC 33 (Sherman 7). Assists - GU 10 (Cole, Williams, Sambou, Beucherie 2), NIC 13 (Sarbaugh 4). Team fouls - GU 13, NIC 12. Fouled out - none.