Longhorns Ink Nic’S Bailey

North Idaho College point guard Nathaniel Bailey has signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at the University of Texas.

“I liked Austin and the coaches,” said Bailey, who averaged 14.1 points as a sophomore at NIC. “I felt it was a good place for me.”

Bailey visited Austin during the weekend. New Longhorns coach Rick Barnes recruited Bailey out of high school in Tennessee.

Bailey orginally planned on attending Iowa State, but became worried by rumors of coach Tim Floyd’s leaving for the Chicago Bulls. One of Floyd’s assistants also took the head coaching job at Northern Iowa.

“I’m glad I got it over with,” Bailey said.

College golf

Washington State senior Max McCain is 10 shots off the pace midway through the Pacific-10 Conference men’s golf tournament at Orinda, Calif.

McCain, who shot a 3-under-par 69 in Monday’s first round, followed it with a 5-over 77 in the afternoon for a 2-over 146. The leader is Dan Arroyo of California at 8-under 136.

As a team, WSU is ninth at 746, 30 shots back of leader California. Washington is tied for seventh with UCLA at 374.

Darren Slackman of Spokane (Mead) is Washington’s leading scorer at 6-over 150 off rounds of 78-72. WSU’s Jeremy Champoux, Eric Toomey and Jeremy Taylor also are at 150.

The University of Idaho shares second, 15 strokes off the pace at the halfway mark of the Big West Conference men’s golf tournament in San Clemente, Calif.

The Vandals, led by Brian King’s 1-over 109 for 27 holes, and North Texas are at 447 behind leader UC Santa Barbara’s 431. The final 27 holes will be today.

Tyler Sullivan of Idaho shot a 4-over 112.

Women’s basketball

The NIC women’s team has signed Katy Sahw, a 6-foot forward, who played her hight schol ball at Kamiakin in Kennewick.

Shaw quit after two games at Columbia Basin College last year. NIC hopes Shaw won’t lose a year of eligibility.

Pro golf

Mark Gardner of The Creek at Qualchan enters today’s final round of the Sentry Markets/Al C. Giusti Tournament at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Wash., nine shots behind the leader with a 148 two-round total.