NIC men’s basketball moves

five more on to 4-year schools

COEUR d’ALENE — The North Idaho College men’s basketball team announced five additional members of the Cardinals program have signed to play at the next level.

Starting guard Adam Gotteti signed to play at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., an NCAA Division II program in the Pac-West Conference. Jordan Henderson, a 6-9 post, will play at NAIA Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, Ore. Freshman reserve guard Tyrus Hosley will play at NAIA Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Ore. Both programs compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The last unsigned member of the 2016-17 roster, sophomore Dylan Okoro, a 6-8 forward, just signed with NCAA Division II Virginia State, a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Highly touted Cardinal signee Trevion Brown, from Lincoln High in Tacoma, has received an offer to play at Division I Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The group joins fellow Cardinals that moved on to NCAA programs following last season — Markus Golder (Valparaiso), Sam Dowd (Idaho State), Niko Bevens (Montana) and Zaequan Satterthwaite (Point Loma).

Vandal men, women to play

hoops doubleheader in Boise

BOISE — The University of Idaho men’s and women’s basketball teams announced plans to play a doubleheader at CenturyLink Arena on Dec. 21.

The women will get things started at 5 p.m. against Eastern Oregon, while the men will follow around 7:30 against Big West power UC Irvine. The Vandals plan to give the game the feel of a home contest, including shipping down the Cowan Spectrum court.

“It’s very important that we maintain an athletic presence in Boise,” Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said. “With a strong alumni base of over 37,000 in the Treasure Valley it has always been important to engage the community of Vandals.”

“Well I think it’s really important to play a game in the Treasure Valley, where our biggest alumni group is at,” Idaho men’s coach Don Verlin said.

“We are excited to get to play a home game so to speak down in Boise,” Idaho women’s coach Jon Newlee said. “It will help us playing on a neutral floor as we go to the conference tournament in Reno in the long term. In the short term, it is great to be in front of our Vandal fan base in Boise. It is hard for them to get all the way up here during the winter time to watch us play at home. For us to be able to go down there and show them what the Vandal women’s program is all about is a fantastic opportunity.”

The Idaho men haven’t played in Boise since falling to Boise State 86-75 on Nov. 25, 2014.

The Vandals have been unable to schedule a game with the Broncos since.

The Vandal women last played in Boise on Feb. 2, 2011. Idaho defeated then Western Athletic Conference rival Boise State, 61-46.