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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cardinals fail to pass big test against CEU

The North Idaho College men’s basketball team failed a couple of subjects Saturday night – mathematics and chemistry.

The Cardinals played so lethargically in the first 25 minutes against College of Eastern Utah that coach Jared Phay admitted to feeling “very embarrassed.” NIC’s spirited effort in the final 15 minutes wasn’t enough to erase a 20-point deficit as the Golden Eagles claimed a 94-88 Scenic West Athletic Conference victory at Christianson Gym, their second over the Cardinals in two nights.

“Not a good weekend for NIC basketball,” Phay summarized.

It wasn’t a good night for team chemistry either. Phay substituted often during NIC’s indifferent play in the first half, but Jamaal Rolle and Tresean Owens had verbal run-ins with the coach when they were taken out separately over a 3-minute span. Phay sent both players to the end of the bench and only Rolle returned, but not before sitting out roughly 15 minutes.

“Team chemistry has been a little bit of a battle this year,” Phay said. “It’s not any person in particular, kind of the group as a whole. I feel like we don’t respond very well when things aren’t going our way. Instead of fighting back, we fold and start fighting.”

NIC dropped to 11-7, 3-5 in the SWAC. The Cardinals are fifth in the six-team conference with two home games against co-leader Salt Lake next weekend and two at co-leader Southern Idaho in two weeks.

CEU (13-4, 5-3) took sole possession of third place with a rare sweep that should make the 15-hour bus ride home to Price, Utah, more enjoyable.

“It’s a tough road trip (with) the distance, the environment,” Golden Eagles coach Bryan Zollinger said. “CSI didn’t come in here and get a sweep. For us to do it, I feel pretty good.”

NIC was out of sorts from the start. The Cardinals’ first three possessions ended with turnovers and they trailed 6-0 with the game barely a minute old. It went downhill from there as Tyler Kepkay, a sharp-shooting Utah-bound guard who had 21 points by intermission, hit the first of his five 3-pointers in the first half.

The Cardinals committed 13 turnovers in the first half and CEU made them pay at the other end. When CEU was forced to set up its offense, it repeatedly beat NIC defenders off the dribble.

“We got angry and we let them score and then we let them score again,” Phay said. “It’s OK to get angry, but we should take pride in what we’re doing and in our defense.”

CEU led 53-37 at half and bumped the margin to 61-41 before NIC sophomore guard Scott Stockwell sparked a comeback. Stockwell made a layup and then scored again after stealing the inbound pass at the 14-minute mark. NIC finally ratcheted up its defense and quickly closed within 10 on Stockwell’s 3-pointer.

Kepkay hit a pair of free throws with 9:11 remaining for his 28th and 29th points, but he left on the ensuing possession after being poked in the eye inadvertently by Stockwell.

“It’s scratched,” Zollinger said. “It’s a little blurry.”

NIC pulled within three points, but CEU made 17 of 18 free throws, including its last 11. Kepkay returned with 1:31 left, mainly because two teammates had fouled out. NIC had three players foul out in the final 5 minutes.

CEU’s Steve Hassell hit 13 of 16 free throws en route to 26 points. Stockwell’s 21 points led NIC. Brian Morris added 20 but committed seven of NIC’s 27 turnovers.