NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinals fall to No. 16 Howard

• MEN'S BASKETBALL

BIG SPRING, Texas — Sophomore Vaughn Weems scored a game-high 21 points for North Idaho College, which fell to the Howard Hawks, ranked 16th in the latest NJCAA poll, 77-61 in the opening game of the Howard Classic at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum on Friday. 

“You get here, and it’s a different brand of basketball,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “It’s a physical game, and they don’t call a lot of fouls. The physicality in the half-court really got to us early.” 

Sophomore Deng Diew had 11 points for NIC, which shot 21 of 51 and outrebounded Howard 35-32.  

Jahki Gupton scored 18 points for Howard (10-2), which forced 21 NIC turnovers, resulting in 30 points. 

“We played hard, but we’ve got to take better care of the ball,” Symons said. “Our turnovers led to dunks and layups and those transition points really hurt us tonight.” 

NIC faces Western Texas today at 3 p.m. PST. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Vaughn Weems 5-11 7-10 21, Ne’quan Brown 4-11 0-2 10, Tayshawn Colvin 1-1 0-0 2, Sam Marbury 0-2 0-0 0, Tautoko Wynyard 1-1 0-0 2, Deng Diew 5-9 1-2 11, Dace Pleasant 2-7 0-0 5, Mehmet Bener 1-1 0-0 3, Romell Russell 0-0 2-3 2, Jacori Ervin 1-6 0-0 2, Ajayi Simmons 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 21-51 10-17 61. 

HOWARD 

Jahki Gupton 5-11 5-5 18, Preist Ryan 3-10 5-6 11, Alexzaye Johnson 2-3 0-0 4, Tyler Mason 6-10 2-4 14, Keziah Ekissi 4-10 0-0 10, King Soloman 5-8 0-0 15, Ejay Scroggins 1-1 1-2 3, Daniel Culberson 1-8 0-0 2, Mouhamadou Diagne 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 13-17 77. 

Halftime — Howard 36-30. 3-point goals — NIC 9-22 (Weems 4-7, Brown 2-5, Marbury 0-2, Diew 0-1, Pleasant 1-5, Bener 1-1, Simmons 1-1), Howard 10-22 (Gupton 3-5, Mason 0-1, Ekissi 2-5, Soloman 5-8, Culberson 0-3). Rebounds — NIC 35 (Marbury 7), Howard 32 (Ryan, Mason 6). Assists — NIC 5 (five with 1), Howard 10 (Johnson, Culberson 3). Team fouls — NIC 19, Howard 18. Fouled out — none. 

• WRESTLING

NIC downs Snow, falls

to Providence in Rockies duals

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Elijah Cater (125 pounds) and Samuel Silveria (149) went unbeaten for the Cardinals in the duals tournament portion of the Battle for the Rockies at the University of Providence. 

NIC beat Snow 41-12, then fell to Providence, ranked 12th in the latest NAIA poll 42-6. 

The bracketed tournament begins today at 8 a.m. PST. 

NORTH IDAHO 41, SNOW 12 

125 — Elijah Cater, NIC, by forfeit. 133 — Hoyt Hvass, NIC, p. Dagen Lamano, 4:51. 141 — Ethan Boulton, NIC, p. Jordan Free, 3:24. 149 — Samuel Silveria, NIC, p. Josiah Wickard, 2:32. 157 — Jacob Hubby, NIC, by forfeit. 165 — Caleb Marx, Snow, md. Gabe Lake, 15-3. 174 — Conan Northwind, NIC, tf. Rylan Stevens, 17-2. 184 — Andre Leota, Snow, d. Noah Poe-Hatten, 10-4. 197 — Chandler Loveless, NIC, p. Kenneth Phillips, 4:22. 285 — Rylee Creasey, Snow, tf. Ray Griffin, 15-0. 

PROVIDENCE 42, NORTH IDAHO 6 

125 — Elijah Cater, NIC, d. Tanner Ulrey, 8-1. 133 — Blake Woolsey, Prov, md. Ansen Widing, 15-3. 141 — Tristan Bremer, Prov, p. Jackson Webb, 3:42. 149 — Samuel Silveria, NIC, d. Dougie Swanson, 8-3. 157 — Jalen Vladic, Prov, tf. Jake Hubby, 16-0. 165 — Blaze Sumiye, Prov, tf. Gabe Lake, 16-1. 174 — Chase Youso, Prov, d. Conan Northwind, by injury default. 184 — Liam Swanson, Prov, by forfeit. 197 — Caleb Warner, Prov, md. Chandler Loveless, 11-2. 285 — Rafael Leapaga, Prov, p. Ray Griffin, :22.