Nic Dumps Snow Cardinals Get Rare Test At Home, Defeat Stubborn Badgers 99-85

North Idaho College’s first six regular-season games at Christianson Gym were blowouts.

No. 7 wasn’t.

NIC was forced to work from tipoff to buzzer to earn a 99-85 Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball win over stubborn Snow College on Thursday night.

“They played really hard and it is tough to bury a team in this league,” said NIC sophomore guard Steve Helm, who had 17 points.

Helm bailed the Cardinals out of a jam in the second half with a crucial 3-pointer that ended an offensive dryspell and put NIC up 72-59 with 6:50 to go.

NIC went on to make 12 straight free throws in the closing 4:30 to finally subdue the aptly named Badgers.

The Cards improved to 2-1 in conference and 11-1 overall. The schedule only gets tougher as No. 9-ranked Dixie visits Saturday night at 7:30.

Snow (2-1, 10-3) was led by relentless forward Pat McGrath, a transfer from the University of Utah who scored 24 points and had 11 boards. His work didn’t go unnoticed by the crowd of 700.

McGrath received an ovation when he fouled out with 1:12 remaining.

“They were able to set the tone,” said McGrath, referring to NIC’s crisp, two-turnover first half that resulted in a 51-34 lead.

McGrath’s performance was all the more remarkable considering he has an artificial eye due to a childhood accident.

“He’s just a tough kid,” NIC coach Rolly Williams said. “They’re a scrappy, hard-working, well-coached club.”

Trailing 26-25, NIC took the lead for good when Roy Kruiswyk powered inside for a bucket. Darnell McCoy quickly added a 3-pointer and he later added another trey to boost NIC on top 47-30.

Sophomore forward Troy Thompson, who led NIC with 29 points, had a 3-point play as the Cards upped their advantage to 59-39 4 minutes into the second half.

From that point on, Snow kept the pressure on the Cards, hanging around like a persistent cough.

McGrath’s nifty drive and bucket narrowed the margin to 11 points and it was just nine after a pair of McGrath free throws with 2:35 to play.

NIC sealed the win at the foul line, where it finished 23 of 28.

“We played with a lot of enthusiasm in the first half,” Williams said. “The second half, we were a totally different team. Steve (Helm) came in and hit a big 3 and he moved the ball and controlled things. I was pleased with him.”

“All year long, he’s told me to be the leader and set things up,” Helm said. “I just got some good looks (at the basket) in the second half. When I get those, I need to knock ‘em down.”

He did, hitting 5 of 7 shots, including both 3-point attempts. Snow’s Andrew Mavis made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.

North Idaho 99, Snow 85

SNOW (85)

Brimhall 2-9 2-5 6, Geddes 3-8 2-2 9, Whiting 0-2 0-0 0, Carlston 2-6 1-2 5, Mavis 8-15 0-0 20, Barnes 6-9 2-3 14, Larson 2-4 1-2 5, McGrath 9-17 4-4 24, Allfrey 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 33-72 12-18 85.

NORTH IDAHO (99)

Hall 2-5 2-2 6, Helm 5-7 5-6 17, Cunningham 1-3 0-0 3, Thompson 11-19 6-7 29, Rapier 0-0 0-0 0, McCoy 3-9 3-4 11, Byrne 2-2 4-4 8, Robertson 4-11 0-0 8, Kruiswyk 5-10 1-3 11, Sanchez 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 35-71 23-28 99.

Half-NIC 51-34. 3-point goals-Snow 7-20 (Mavis 4-8, McGrath 2-3, Geddes 1-6, Whiting 0-1, Carlston 0-2), NIC 6-19 (Helm 2-2, McCoy 2-7, Cunningham 1-3, Thompson 1-3, Robertson 0-2, Sanchez 0-1). Fouls-Snow 17, NIC 15. Fouled out-McGrath. Technical fouls-none. Rebounds-Snow 39 (McGrath 11), NIC 39 (Kruiswyk 11). Assists-Snow 22 (Geddes 11), NIC 25 (Hall, Helm each had 5). Att-700.

, DataTimes