Csi Comes Up With Quality Win Mcquay’s 26 Points Lead Golden Eagles Over Cardinals

Xs and Os are nice, but quality players are a coach’s best friend.

College of Southern Idaho has a truckload of talent and put it on display during an entertaining 85-77 Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball win over scrappy North Idaho College in front of 1,334 at Christianson Gym on Saturday night.

NIC couldn’t overcome physical mismatches against the seventh-ranked Golden Eagles, who rode forward Greg McQuay’s 26 points.

“Our kids played about as hard and as well as we could play,” NIC coach Hugh Watson said.

CSI simply had too many weapons on the interior and the perimeter.

McQuay, Floyd Farrow, Chico Mooree and Juliano Jordani - each 6-foot-7 and athletic - were dominant inside. NIC played without center Steven Ryan, who is improving, but hadn’t received medical clearance after suffering a concussion two weeks ago.

Guards Joe Marshall and Curtis Bobb combined for seven of CSI’s eight first-half 3-pointers as the Golden Eagles took a 43-37 lead.

NIC led 17-10 early, but fell behind when Marshall and Bobb started connecting.

“We didn’t get out on their shooters,” Watson said.

McQuay set the tone for the second half by scoring CSI’s first five points. His jam punctuated a fast-break, giving CSI a 55-48 lead.

NIC, led by workhorse JoVann Johnson’s 22 points, closed within 69-67 on Casey Fisher’s free throws.

But Farrow’s tip-in started a decisive 9-0 run. McQuay, normally a 57-percent foul shooter, hit six straight free throws.

Farrow ended the run by swatting Gabe Watson’s 3-point attempt. Farrow recovered the ball, drove for a layup and was fouled. His free throw sent CSI on top 78-67.

“In the first half, it was their guards,” Johnson said. “In the second half, they went to their big guys.”

The mismatches were apparent, Watson said.

“McQuay just sealed us off and there’s no way Casey Fisher can guard him,” Watson said. “We go inside to 6-7 (Fisher), 6-2 (Johnson) and 6-3 (Gabe Watson). JoVann has to hoochie-koochie in there just to get a shot off.”

NIC, lacking post scoring, relied on long-distance shooting and Johnson’s drives to the bucket. But NIC’s top three scorers - Johnson, Nathaniel Bailey (19) and Johnny Goodman (15) - all shot well below 50 percent.

Goodman was 3 of 13 on 3-pointers as the Cards made just 9 of 31 treys. NIC shot only 37 percent overall.

NIC dropped to 15-11 overall, 5-10 in the SWAC. The Cards are in seventh place, but they have all but clinched a spot in the Region 18 Tournament.

CSI (23-3, 11-3) and Salt Lake trail fourth-ranked Dixie by a half-game in the SWAC title chase. If NIC finishes seventh and CSI second, the two would meet in the first round of the regional tourney.

“I’m not taking anything away from CSI, but I think Dixie’s a better ball club,” Johnson said.

Southern Idaho 85, North Idaho 77

Southern Idaho (23-3, 11-3) - Mullahon 2-4 1-2 5, Marshall 5-9 2-2 17, McCullough 2-7 3-4 8, Bobb 5-8 0-0 14, McCutcheon 0-1 0-0 0, Gay 1-4 0-0 2, Farrow 4-6 1-1 9, McQuay 9-12 8-9 26, Jordani 0-2 0-0 0, Mooree 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 30-58 15-18 85.

North Idaho (15-11, 5-10) - Johnson 6-16 9-10 22, Bailey 7-16 2-2 19, Goodman 6-18 0-1 15, Brosseau 0-0 0-0 0, Houston 0-0 0-0 0, Clay 1-5 0-0 2, Watson 2-6 0-0 6, Fisher 2-4 4-7 8, Al-Arorey 1-2 3-4 5. Totals 25-67 18-24 77.

Halftime - CSI 43-37. 3-point goals - CSI 10-20 (Marshall 5-7, McCullough 1-3, Bobb 4-7, Gay 0-1, McQuan 0-1, Jordani 0-1); NIC 9-31 (Johnson 1-1, Bailey 3-8, Goodman 3-13, Clay 0-3, Watson 2-6). Total fouls - CSI 21, NIC 20. Fouled out - Bailey. Technical fouls - none. Rebounds - CSI 35 ( Farrow 7); NIC 30 (Johnson 9). Assists - CSI 20 (Gay 6); NIC 19 (Bailey 6). Att. - 1,334.

, DataTimes