NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Close call for Cards in Tarkanian Classic
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 8 hours, 35 minutes AGO
LAS VEGAS — Freshman Austin Ouko tied the game at 60-60 with 2:02 remaining for North Idaho College, which rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half before falling to 12th-ranked Indian Hills Community College of Ottumwa, Iowa, 65-63 in the JUCO division of the Tarkanian Classic at the Orleans Arena on Friday.
KJ LaMonte made a pair of free throws with 50 seconds remaining for Indian Hills. NIC sophomore Ajayi Simmons hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 65-63 with 39 seconds remaining. The Cardinals got the ball back, but turned it over with 1 second remaining.
Ouko, an Idaho commit, scored a game-high 16 points for NIC (8-4), which returns home to host Tacoma in the opening game of the TitleOne Classic at Rolly Williams Court on Dec. 28.
Chaz Watson scored 15 points for Indian Hills (14-2).
NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE
Ne’quan Brown 0-10 1-2 1, Nyale Robinson 1-6 0-0 3, Ajayi Simmons 7-13 0-1 16, Austin Ouko 7-14 1-1 19, Gage Ontiveros 3-6 2-2 8, Vander Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Ace Arnold 1-3 0-0 3, Cody Wright 1-1 0-0 2, Cason Miller 1-2 2-2 5, Justus Haseley 0-3 0-0 0, Aly Toure 1-1 0-0 2, Jacori Ervin 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 24-62 6-8 63.
INDIAN HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Mason Costello 1-8 0-0 2, Ater Manyuon 1-3 3-3 4, Taj Au-Duke 3-11 5-6 13, Vladyslav Semerych 1-2 0-2 2, Chiang Ring 2-4 3-5 7, Javeyn Martin 1-3 0-0 2, Xavier Wilson 3-5 2-3 10, KJ LaMonte 1-4 3-4 5, Sawyer Mayhugh 2-10 0-3 5, Chaz Watson 5-11 0-0 15. Totals 20-61 15-25 65.
Halftime — IHCC 41-35. 3-point goals — NIC 9-29 (N. Brown 0-3, Robinson 1-6, Simmons 2-7, Ouko 4-8, Arnold 1-2, Miller 1-1, Haseley 0-2), IHCC 10-29 (Costello 0-7, Manyuon 0-1, Au-Duke 2-4, Martin 0-1, Wilson 2-2, LaMonte 0-1, Mayhugh 1-4, Watson 5-9). Rebounds — NIC 48 (Ouko 8), IHCC 37 (Ring 9). Assists — NIC 16 (Robinson 5), IHCC 15 (Au-Duke 6). Team fouls — NIC 26, IHCC 15. Fouled out — Ontiveros. Technical fouls — Wilson.