Nic Using Last Encounter With Treasure Valley As Motivation

North Idaho College will be without injured center Steven Ryan, but not without motivation.

Treasure Valley beat the Cards 75-69 a month ago in a game that left both teams riled afterward. The Chukars visit NIC’s Christianson Gym tonight at 7:30.

“We left with some real bitter feelings,” NIC coach Hugh Watson said. “We felt like we got about four or five cheap shots and there was a lot of mouthing.”

After the game, NIC assistant coach Mark White had words with a TVCC player who had been called for a hard foul and celebrated by high-fiving Chukars along the bench.

White’s exchange irked TVCC coach Drake Wallick, who told White to stay away from his players.

Beyond the leftover ill will, tonight’s game is big in the race for the Region 18 Tournament. The top eight qualify. With five games remaining, NIC (14-10 overall, 4-9 Scenic West Athletic Conference) is currently seventh, just ahead of Eastern Utah (13-12, 3-10) and TVCC (11-13, 2-10).

Ryan had surgery earlier this week to repair the broken nose he suffered about 12 days ago. He’s expected to miss tonight and probably Saturday’s game against College of Southern Idaho (22-2, 11-2). He’s still bothered by blurry vision and headaches from a concussion.

CSI, rated seventh, beat NIC last month and has the SWAC’s top defense, yielding only 62.8 points. CSI, which shoots 51 percent, has four players averaging in double figures.

Women

NIC’s women (18-4, 9-4) probably need a sweep to foster slim hopes of winning the SWAC. Treasure Valley (2-20, 1-11) shouldn’t pose much of a threat. NIC beat the Chukars 76-57 last month.

CSI’s women (18-5, 9-3) are a different story. The 25th-ranked Golden Eagles beat NIC last month and are contending with Ricks (22-2, 11-2) for the SWAC title.

, DataTimes