Cardinal men get big one over Salt Lake

COEUR d'ALENE — The hunt is on in the Scenic West Athletic Conference as six teams fight for the top four spots to the Region 18 Tournament in March. 

For the first time this season, North Idaho College finds itself right in the middle of that race. 

Sophomore Ne'quan Brown led four starters in double figures with 14 points as the Cardinals beat the visiting Salt Lake Bruins 74-61 on Thursday night at Rolly Williams Court. 

NIC (12-9, 2-4 SWAC) moved into a tie for fourth with Salt Lake (8-11, 2-4) with the win. 

"The guys played really well," said NIC coach Corey Symons, whose team outrebounded Salt Lake 57-29, led by freshman Aly Toure's 17 rebounds. "We've been working on our free throws, rebounds and turnovers, and we really smacked them on the glass tonight." 

Freshman Nyale Robinson, playing in front of his father, former Washington star Nate Robinson, had 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists for NIC. 

"Nyale played great tonight," Symons said. "He was aggressive and did a really good job for us tonight. Having Nate in the gym, he's a big presence." 

Freshman Austin Ouko had 13 points and Toure added 12 for NIC, which hosts last-place Colorado Northwestern on Saturday at 3 p.m. 

"This was a big game for us," Symons said. "We need to bounce back on Saturday and really put ourselves in a good position." 

Makuei Riek scored 16 points for Salt Lake, which visits College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls on Saturday. 

SALT LAKE 

Jaxon Heiden 0-4 2-4 2, Lantz Stephenson 1-6 0-0 3, Danny Young Jr. 4-14 0-0 9, Daye Kaba 1-5 2-4 4, Makuei Riek 5-11 3-4 16, Nick Clark 1-6 3-3 5, Nick Jefferson 4-9 0-0 9, Connor Nielsen 0-0 0-0, Grant Roth 0-1 0-0 0, Duncan Reid 0-2 0-0 0, Reggie Larsen 3-6 0-1 7, Braden Heaton 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 22-68 10-16 61. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Austin Ouko 4-8 2-2 13, Aly Toure 4-9 4-6 12, Nyale Robinson 3-10 3-4 11, Ne'quan Brown 4-12 6-9 14, Cody Wright 3-4 0-0 7, Ace Arnold 0-2 0-0 0, Ajayi Simmons 4-10 0-0 9, Cason Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Gage Ontiveros 1-3 0-0 2, Justus Haseley 0-0 2-2 2, Jacori Ervin 1-3 2-4 4. Totals 24-62 19-27 74. 

Halftime — NIC 38-29. 3-point goals — SLCC 7-29 (Heiden 0-2, Stephenson 1-4, Young Jr. 1-7, Kaba 0-1, Riek 3-5, Clark 0-2, Jefferson 1-3, Roth 0-1, Reid 0-1, Larsen 1-3), NIC 7-18 (Ouko 3-5, Robinson 2-4, N. Brown 0-3, Wright 1-2, Arnold 0-2, Simmons 1-2). Rebounds — SLCC 29 (Riek 5), NIC 57 (Toure 17). Assists — SLCC 9 (Clark 4), NIC 14 (Robinson 6). Team fouls — SLCC 24, NIC 17. Fouled out — none. 

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