NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals start strong, navigate Green River in home opener

COEUR d’ALENE — Freshman Ace Arnold scored a team-high 17 points in a reserve role for North Idaho College in a 102-87 win over Green River Community College of Auburn, Wash., at Rolly Williams Court on Thursday night. 

Sawyr Hansen, a freshman from Eagle High, had 10 points and nine rebounds for NIC (3-1).  

“We came out and played really well and shared the ball well,” said NIC coach Corey Symons, whose team jumped out to an 11-0 lead. “They play a tough matchup zone and we moved the ball around and really took advantage of that in the first half.” 

NIC outrebounded Green River 43-36, led by Hansen’s nine boards. 

“We went a little smaller and Sawyr, who’s usually a four (small forward) played the five (power forward), Symons said. “And he was big for us. It was just a good all-around team win for us. We shot the ball well in the first half and in the second we tried to stay hot, but shot ourselves out of it. We’ve got a lot to work on, but Green River’s a really good team.” 

Chase Degraffenried had 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Green River in its season opener. The Gators will face Northwest of Powell, Wyo., today at NIC at 3 p.m. 

NIC faces Northwest on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GREEN RIVER 

Chase Degraffenried 11-23 5-6 28, Kesler Vaughan 2-11 1-3 5, Mason St. Louis 2-2 0-0 4, Taylor Feroah 3-10 2-2 10, Logan Weidauer 4-11 7-7 16, Vicent Crow 1-2, Bryton Valdes 1-3 1-2 3, Ian Hillman 3-4 0-0 8, Liam Sheeran 0-3 0-0 0, Brandon Logan 0-0 0-0 0, Lukas Klosterman 3-7 0-0 9. Totals 30-76 18-23 87. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Ne’quan Brown 4-8 2-2 11, Nyale Robinson 4-8 0-0 12, Ajayi Simmons 6-14 0-0 14, Austin Ouko 2-12 3-4 7, Jacori Ervin 3-4 1-2 7, Vander Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Ace Arnold 4-7 5-5 17, Cason Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Sawyr Hansen 3-4 4-7 10, Gage Ontiveros 1-1 0-0 2, Justus Haseley 3-6 5-5 13, Aly Toure 3-3 1-2 7. Totals 34-72 21-27 102. 

Halftime — NIC 59-37. 3-point goals — GRCC 9-39 (Degraffenried 1-8, Vaughan 0-4, Feroah 2-9, Weidauer 1-6, Crow 0-1, Valdes 0-1, Hillman 2-3, Klosterman 3-7), NIC 13-35 (N. Brown 1-3, Robinson 4-7, Simmons 2-6, Ouko 0-9, Arnold 4-7, Miller 0-1, Haseley 2-2). Rebounds — GRCC 36 (Degraffenried 8), NIC 43 (Hansen 9). Assists — GRCC 14 (Degraffenried 5), NIC 18 (Robinson 6). Team fouls — GRCC 20, NIC 19. Fouled out — Robinson. Technical fouls — Ontiveros.