NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinals compete, but come up short vs. No. 4 CSI

MEN'S BASKETBALL

TWIN FALLS — Freshman Braylon Haman scored on a layup with 10 seconds remaining to give 22nd-ranked North Idaho College its first lead since late in the first half, but fourth-ranked Southern Idaho was able to force overtime before pulling away for a 100-89 win in the championship game of the Battle for the Boot on Saturday. 

"We've got to do a better job of closing games out," NIC coach Corey Symons said. "Our guys competed and they played hard. We just kind of ran out of gas in overtime. CSI is really good, but we had our chances to win the game. We just need to figure out how to close it out." 

NIC trailed 73-63 with 3:46 remaining in regulation, but outscored CSI 18-8 in the final stretch. CSI sophomore DJ Fizer, son of former Iowa State and NBA player Marcus Fizer, made a free throw with three seconds remaining to tie the game, then missed a game-winning shot as time expired.  

"Our guys really competed and really made a run at them," Symons said. "We just kind of hit the wall. We competed hard with a really good team and are happy with where we're at right now."

Haman had 28 points, seven assists and four steals and sophomore Austin Ouko had 20 points and six rebounds for NIC (3-1), which travels to Casper (Wyo.) College on Friday. 

Fizer Jr. Had 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench for CSI (5-0). 

NORTH IDAHO 

Nyale Robinson 2-5 0-0 6, Austin Ouko 7-12 3-5 20, Gelonni Ervin 1-6 3-6 5, Braylon Haman 9-17 9-13 28, Aly Toure 2-6 2-2 6, Jayce Swanson 1-5 0-0 3, Messiah Springer 0-2 1-2 1, Remy Albrecht 0-1 0-0 0, Gage Ontiveros 1-2 0-0 2, Logan Roos 1-1 1-1 3, Chidera Ukachukvu 5-10 3-6 15, Hunter Cordell 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 29-67 22-36 89. 

SOUTHERN IDAHO 

Carlo Mulford 3-8 3-3 9, Berrett Wilson 7-8 6-9 21, Cutter Beus 5-11 2-4 15, Kyah Farris-White 4-6 0-0 10, Kobe Kesler 4-9 1-2 10, Reggie Larsen 0-0 0-0 0, Luka Solomun 1-1 0-0 3, Diego Mulford 0-2 0-0 0, DJ Fizer Jr. 9-15 5-7 23, Carter Davis 2-5 4-6 8, Guygustone Kasenga 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 35-66 22-33 100. 

Halftime — tied 33-33. End of regulation — tied 81-81. 3-point goals — NIC 9-22 (Robinson 2-4, Ouko 3-6, Haman 1-3, Swanson 1-3, Springer 0-1, Albrecht 0-1, Ukachukvu 2-4), CSI 8-22 (C. Mulford 0-1, Wilson 1-1, Beus 3-8, Farris-White 2-3, Kesler 1-2, Solomun 1-1, D. Mulford 0-2, Fizer Jr. 0-3, Davis 0-1). Rebounds — NIC 36 (Toure 7), CSI 45 (Wilson 9). Assists — NIC 13 (Haman 7), CSI 15 (C. Mulford, Wilson 4). Team fouls — NIC 29, CSI 25. Fouled out — Ouko, Ontiveros, Beus. Technical fouls — Haman. 

WRESTLING

Johnson, Block claim

titles at Grand View Open

DES MOINES, Iowa — Freshman Daeton Johnson (149 pounds) and sophomore Dylan Block (174) won individual titles for North Idaho College in the Grand View Open at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex. 

"Both Daeton and Dylan came out and wrestled really, really well," NIC coach Derrick Booth said. "That bracket Daeton was in was the biggest one of the entire tournament, and the kid wrestled super well. It was good to see him go out and win. Dylan was tested throughout the day and just had a really good weekend." 

Freshmen Dillon Ivie (133 pounds) and Brendan Hughes (285), and sophomores Colton Theobald (165) and Rade Ostrander (197) finished runner-up for NIC.. 

Freshman Dominic Bozanic (third at 133), sophomore Joe Sullivan (third at 157), sophomore Parker Ballantyne (fourth at 141), freshman Brayden Robinson (fourth at 165), sophomore Korbin Churchran (seventh at 157), sophomore Seth Martin (sixth at 184) also placed for NIC, which hosts Division II Simon Fraser next Saturday. 

“Each time out, we look a little better,” Booth said. “This is one of the biggest tournaments, with guys from the NAIA and Division I ranks. All of our guys wrestled well. We’re excited to get home, rest, recover and have a good weekend next weekend.”