NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals hold off Spokane on home court

COEUR d’ALENE — Now in different conferences, it still meant a little bit for North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Corey Symons to face Spokane Colleges for the first time since 2023. 

Sophomore Ne’quan Brown had 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Cardinals in an 82-72 win over the Sasquatch in the TitleOne Classic at Rolly Williams Court on Monday. 

It was the first time since Feb. 22, 2023, also a NIC 82-72 win, when the teams were in the regionally-based Northwest Athletic Conference. That was the final season for the Cardinals before returning to the NJCAA in basketball-only for the 2023-24 season. 

“We explained to our guys about the rivalry and what this game means,” Symons said. “We got out to a great start (led 17-1) and kind of went into coast mode. It’s a great rivalry and good to get it back.” 

Austin Ouko and Gage Ontiveros scored 15 points each for NIC (10-4), which shot 32 of 55 while holding Spokane to 22 of 58. 

“Spokane just plays hard,” Symons said. “We did a good job of guarding their shooters. We were trying to use our size and they did a good job of fronting our posts. We’re lucky to have came out of their with a win.” 

NIC concludes the tournament today against Shoreline at 3 p.m.

Spokane faces Tacoma, which beat Shoreline 85-77 earlier on Monday, today at 1 p.m. 

SPOKANE COLLEGES 

Eloy Chaparro 2-6 4-5 8, Jack Del Mese 3-8 0-0 8, Grant Olsen 2-6 1-2 6, Jasahn Redmond 3-3 5-7 11, Javonte Boles 1-6 5-6 7, Carson Way 4-8 3-6 14, Jake Graham 0-1 0-0 0, Kymel Williams 6-14 2-3 16, Aidan Kelly 0-3 0-0 0, Maven Bell-Toleafoa 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 22-58 20-29 72. 

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE 

Ne’quan Brown 10-17 3-10 25, Nyale Robinson 3-7 0-1 8, Cason Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Austin Ouko 5-9 2-3 15, Gage Ontiveros 7-8 1-1 15, Vander Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Ace Arnold 2-4 1-2 7, Jackson Pepper 0-0 0-0, Ajayi Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Shamar Jones 0-0 0-0, Cody Wright 2-4 0-0 5, Sawyr Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Aly Toure 3-4 0-0 6, Jacori Ervin 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 32-55 8-19 82. 

Halftime — NIC 40-31. 3-point goals — SC 8-23 (Chaparro 0-1, Del Mese 2-5, Olsen 1-2, Way 3-7, Graham 0-1, Williams 2-6, Kelly 0-1), NIC 10-22 (N. Brown 2-7, Robinson 2-3, Miller 0-1, Ouko 3-6, Arnold 2-4, Wright 1-1). Rebounds — SC 20 (Way 6), NIC 45 (Ontiveros 8). Assists — SC 6 (Way 3), NIC 17 (N. Brown 5). Team fouls — SC 17, NIC 26. Fouled out — Redmond, Miller. 

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College freshman guard Ace Arnold attempts to shoot over Spokane College's Grant Olsen during the first half of Monday's game at Rolly Williams Court.