NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men hold on in season opener

• MEN'S BASKETBALL

TWIN FALLS — With four returning sophomores, three with significant playing time during the 2024-25 season, North Idaho College coach Corey Symons will be counting on those familiar guys a little more early on. 

As it turned out, one in particular stepped in at the right time. 

Ne’quan Brown, a sophomore from Tacoma, Wash., returned to the lineup to finish with 18 points and five rebounds for the Cardinals, who beat Casper College 98-94 in the Battle for the Boot on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho on Thursday. 

Brown, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder, had not practiced for the past nine weeks, and was medically cleared to play on Tuesday. 

“He had a blood clot in his shoulder, and basically practiced for two days,” Symons said. “They had to remove a rib and he had to have two major surgeries. But he came in and played well.” 

Freshman Aly Toure had 20 points and 18 rebounds in 25 minutes in the season opener for NIC, which faces Eastern Florida (2-0) of Melbourne, Fla., today at 4 p.m. PST in Twin Falls. Eastern Florida beat McCook 111-101 in the opening game of the tournament. 

Freshman Justus Haseley had 20 points and six rebounds and freshman Ace Arnold added 17 points on 4 of 5 from the 3-point line. 

Arnold is the son of Gibson Arnold, the director of mental performance and player personnel for the University of Washington men’s basketball team. 

“Ace really gave us a quick spark,” Symons said. “We’ve got some pieces, and we need to put it all together.” 

Parker Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Casper (0-2). 

NORTH IDAHO 

Ne’quan Brown 7-14 4-4 18, Nyale Robinson 0-2 0-0 0, Ajayi Simmons 1-7 1-4 3, Austin Ouko 4-12 2-4 12, Jacori Ervin 2-3 0-0 4, Ace Arnold 5-6 3-3 17, Cason Miller 1-5 0-0 2, Sawyr Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Gage Ontiveros 1-1 0-0 2, Justus Haseley 5-11 9-14 20, Aly Toure 8-10 4-6 20. Totals 34-71 23-35 98. 

CASPER COLLEGE 

Zaire Richardson 3-13 3-4 9, Parker Davis 9-12 3-6 25, Buai Luak 2-3 4-5 8, Channing Cade 1-4 4-6 6, Aaron Sievert 6-13 1-2 16, Randy Clay Jr. 0-0 0-0 0, Nasir Washington 8-17 2-2 21, Colton Rogers 0-1 0-0 0, Zachariah Linson 0-2 0-0 0, Justin Bandy 2-5 2-2 7, Kamil Cardot 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 31-70 21-29 94. 

Halftime — NIC 51-41. 3-point goals — NIC 7-24 (Brown 0-1, Simmons 0-3, Ouko 2-7, Arnold 4-5, Miller 0-4, Haseley 1-2), CC 11-33 (Richardson 0-4, Davis 4-5, Cade 0-2, Sievert 3-8, Washington 3-9, Rogers 0-1, Linson 0-2, Bandy 1-2). Rebounds — NIC 52 (Toure 18), CC 34 (Davis 10). Assists — NIC 16 (Haseley 8), CC 16 (Richardson, Sievert 5). Team fouls — NIC 24, CC 29. Fouled out — Davis, Cade. Technical fouls — Washington. 

• SOCCER

Cardinals named to 

Region 18 team

North Idaho College men’s and women’s soccer players were recently named to the All-Region 18 team, the school announced. 

In women’s soccer, sophomore Zoey Glenn of Vernal, Utah, was selected to the first team. Freshman Molly McClennan of Gold Coast, Australia, and sophomore McKenzie White of Vernal, Utah, were named to the third team. 

In men’s soccer, sophomore Daniel Gutierrez of Salt Lake City, freshman Sebastiano Casini of Bologna, Italy, and freshman Federico Bellisi of Bologna, Italy, were named to the first team. Sophomore Nicolas Sanchez of Napa, Calif., sophomore Judah Straight of Bellingham, Wash., and sophomore Lorian Aerts of Liege, Belgium, earned second team honors. Sophomore Drew Hansen of Coeur d’Alene High and freshman Ariel Martinez of Lehi, Utah, were selected to the third team. 

Martinez was also named to the All-Region 18 Tournament team.