Nic Men Win To Remain Tied Atop Scenic West

North Idaho College remained in a first-place tie in the Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball title chase with an 85-82 overtime win over Salt Lake on Friday night.

The 13th-ranked Cards improved to 24-3 overall and 14-3 in the SWAC. College of Eastern Utah, rated 16th, pounded Snow to stay tied with NIC at 14-3. Both play their final regular-season games tonight.

In overtime, the two teams exchanged baskets for several possessions. With about 56 seconds remaining and NIC leading by one, Salt Lake missed a shot and NIC’s Chris Harrison was able to call time out as he was falling out of bounds with the rebound.

After the timeout, NIC inbounded to Harrison and he was fouled. Like teammate Shawn Myrick would do with 13 seconds remaining, he missed the first shot and made the second.

Myrick’s free throw gave NIC its three-point lead, then Salt Lake missed a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining and time ran out as Harrison came up with the rebound in the corner.

NIC faces Utah Valley tonight in Orem in its regular-season finale. NIC is host to the conference tournament next week. Utah Valley lost to Ricks 92-76 on Friday.

NIC 85, Salt Lake 82

North Idaho (24-3, 14-3) - Myrick 7-18 9-12 27, Myles 3-7 2-2 8, Rahming 0-0 2-3 2, Houston 2-5 3-4 7, McKanstry 7-18 2-4 17, Harrison 7-11 1-3 15, Banks 2-4 3-5 7, Ryan 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-64 22-33 84.

Salt Lake (21-8, 9-8) - Reiser 2-7 3-4 7, Bullock 3-6 3-3 9, Homer 5-14 4-6 16, Lawson 1-4 1-2 4, Halliday 2-9 0-0 5, Sojourney 1-5 4-6 6, Hastings 8-11 6-10 22, Arteaga 1-2 2, Smith 5-9 1-3 11. Totals 28-67 22-34 82.

Halftime score - NIC 36, SLC 30. 3-point goals - NIC 5-15 (Myrick 4-10, Myles 0-2, McKanstry 1-3), SLC 4-19 (Homer 2-7, Lawson 1-2, Halliday 1-7, Sojourney 0-1, Smith 0-2). Total fouls - NIC 26, SLC 26. Fouled out - Myles, Banks; Homer, Smith. Technical fouls - NIC coach, Harrison; Lawson. Rebounds - NIC 43 (Banks 9), SLC 45 (Bullock 14). Assists - NIC 13 (Myles 7), SLC 15 (Reiser 4).