Cardinals Escape With Overtime Win Over Csi Goaltending Call Gives Nic Rare Victory Over Rival

North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Hugh Watson walked out of the locker room and looked at the scoreboard to confirm the final score.

The scoreboard still showed the Cardinals had scored a rare victory over Scenic West Athletic Conference rival College of Southern Idaho, 85-83 in overtime Thursday before a crowd of 1,450.

What the scoreboard didn’t show was how fortunate the Cardinals were to win a game they should have put away in regulation.

NIC gave new meaning to holding the attention of a crowd in one of the most unsightly yet competitive games played at NIC.

In fact, the contest won’t rank among the all-time classic battles between NIC and CSI. But most important to Watson and the Cardinals is they took a step - albeit small - toward possibly playing host to the Region 18 Tournament in March.

Appropriately, the game ended in overtime in a bizarre manner akin to the previous 40 minutes of regulation. Cardinal guard Shawn Myrick put up a spinning shot in the key that never came close to the rim because CSI forward Greg McQuay was called for goaltending with three seconds left.

A desperation 3-pointer near midcourt never came close as time finally expired.

NIC raised its overall record to 12-1 and moved to 4-1 in conference. CSI dropped to 12-4 and 2-2.

“We tried every way in the world to give it away,” Watson muttered to himself afterward.

The most glaring mistake - and juvenile act at the same time - was committed by point guard Todd Myles in the closing seconds of regulation.

CSI guard Tony Heard had just thrown the ball away driving baseline with :08 remaining. As NIC attempted to inbound the ball against pressure, Myles was called for a flagrant technical away from the ball when he shoved a CSI player with both hands.

Heard, usually an accurate free-throw shooter, missed the first but made the second to knot the score at 73. CSI then was awarded the ball and Travon Broadway missed a driving shot in the lane and McQuay couldn’t get a tip to crawl over the front rim at the buzzer.

“We had it won (in regulation), but we lost our head,” Watson said. “You’ve got to keep control. You’re an All-American high school player (Myles) and you lose your control like that, that’s bush. I hope he learned his lesson.”

Because of a conference rule, Myles must sit out NIC’s home game Saturday against Treasure Valley.

Neither team was able to get into any offensive flow - particularly in the second half.

The teams combined for 32 fouls in the final half and 5-minute overtime - 57 for the game.

If NIC had made more of its free throws in regulation or overtime the game wouldn’t have been as close. The Cardinals made just 19 of 35 foul shots to CSI’s 23 of 33.

Contributing to NIC’s poor play was poor shooting from the field. The Cards shot 35 percent, making 31 of 88 attempts.

Strangely, NIC played from behind from the opening tip. Although they were never down by more than 9 points - and most of time CSI had a 6-point margin - the Cards didn’t take their first lead until Chris Harrison made both ends of an one-and-one. NIC briefly led 59-57 with 8:54 left.

CSI would build another 5-point lead before the Cards rallied in the final 4 minutes.

NIC seemed to have the game in control when Leonard Myles completed a three-point play to put the Cards in front 73-70 with 1:10 left.

Broadway made two free throws at the :56 mark before the crazy finish unfolded.

“We didn’t make good decisions down the stretch when it counted,” CSI coach Jim Thrash said. “In this environment we know we’re not going to get any breaks from the officials. All we were looking for was to have a chance, and we just didn’t make the most of it.”

Todd Myles led NIC with 23 points and 11 assists. Broadway and Floyd Farrow scored 19 each for CSI.

NIC 85, CSI 83

North Idaho College - Myrick 4-17 4-6 13, Johnson 1-3 1-4 3, Todd Myles 10-18 2-4 23, McKanstry 3-13 4-8 10, Harrison 4-9 3-6 13, Banks 2-4 0-0 4, Ryan 0-1 3-4 3, Leonard Myles 7-12 2-3 16.

College of Southern Idaho - King 0-1 2-2 2, Mullahon 7-7 14, Broadway 6-14 7-10 19, Packer 2-2 2-4 7, Heard 3-6 5-6 11, Farrow 8-14 3-4 19, Nelson 1-4 3-4 5, Quay 3-6 0-1 6.

Halftime score - 39 CSI 38 NIC. 3-point goals - NIC 4-13 (Myrick 1-6, T. Myles 1-2, McKanstry 0-2, Harrison 2-2, Banks 0-1.) CSI 0-4 (Packer 0-2, Heard 0-2.) Total Fouls - NIC 29, CSI 28. Fouled out - NIC, Harrison, Banks, Myles.

Technical - NIC, T. Myles. Rebounds NIC 39 (Harrison 11) CSI 39 (Broadway 9). Assists - NIC 22 (T. Myles 11), CSI 21 (Packer 6).

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