Game Nic Delivers Everything But A Win Cards Trail Until Late, Force Ot Before Salt Lake Claims Victory

There was a little of everything in North Idaho College’s 89-86 heartbreaking overtime loss to Salt Lake Community College in Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Thursday at Christianson Gym. For those in attendance there was lots of action, a bit of magic, and even some drama.

Check that - there was tons of drama.

A furious rally by the Cardinals, who played catch-up the entire game, fell just short on a miss at the buzzer.

NIC, which never led until early in the overtime period, tied the game at 77-77 with :23 left in regulation on a lay-in by Damon Hunter after a nice feed from Kendall Boyd.

The drama increased shortly thereafter when the Cardinals took an 80-77 lead early in overtime on a 3-pointer by Jerry Petty.

The Bruins’ Carmie Olowoyo answered with a 3-pointer to tie it and, after a bucket by Salt Lake’s Travis Spivey made it 82-80, NIC took its last lead when Dan Franklin hit one of his six 3-pointers.

But in the end, the Bruins’ magic was a little more powerful than that of the Cardinals.

That magic came in the form of Spivey, the SWAC’s leading scorer. Held to nine points in regulation, Spivey scored Salt Lake’s last nine points in overtime.

The Cardinals, who suited eight eligible players, sometimes had more coaches and trainers in their timeout huddles than athletes.

But what the Cardinals lacked in numbers, they made up in effort. Forced to shoot from outside against the bigger, more physical Bruins, NIC left everything on the court.

Despite never leading, the Cardinals stayed close, trailing by just 12 at halftime (45-33) while shooting just 12 of 37 from the field and being outrebounded 27-9.

Doing most of the damage was Olowoyo, who, in addition to almost having more o’s in his name than the Cardinals had players, had 15 first half points.

But the real magic in NIC’s comeback was provided by NIC guard Dan Franklin.

Seemingly every time the Bruins would threaten to run away, Franklin would hit a key 3-pointer. Franklin led NIC’s second-half comeback, finishing with 21 points, 18 coming in that second half.

Ironically, it was Franklin’s 3-pointer to tie that fell just short at the buzzer as NIC’s magic ran out.

“We stay close to everybody,” NIC coach Hugh Watson lamented. “We just can’t push it over the hump. I was hoping we would get in the one-and-one at the end. We never did. The kids laid it on the line tonight.”

NIC, which also got 20 points from Reggie Johnson, 18 from Russell Ware, and 17 from Petty ended up shooting just 33 percent for the game.

Olowoyo led the Bruins with a game-high of 30 points.

NIC plays at home Saturday against Utah Valley.

Salt Lake 89, North Idaho 86 (OT)

Salt Lake CC - Hancey 0-0 0-0 0, Ramey 0-2 2-2 2, Olowoyo 10-18 4-4 30, Spivey 6-23 6-9 18, Allred 6-9 0-0 12, Zentner 0-0 2-2 2, Perry 1-1 0-0 2, Hill 4-9 0-0 9, Bovell 1-2 1-1 3, Lozancic 0-0 0-0 0, Dorenbosch 5-6 1-4 11. Totals 33-70 16-22 89.

North Idaho - Hunter 3-7 0-0 6, Franklin 6-12 3-3 21, Ware 7-16 1-1 18, Boyd 0-3 0-0 0, Petty 7-20 1-1 17, O’Dowd 0-2 0-0 0, Johnson 7-16 2-2 20, Hansen 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 32-79 7-9 86.

Halftime - Salt Lake CC 45, North Idaho 33. 3-point goals - Salt Lake CC 7-15 (Olowoyo 6-7, Hill 1-6, Spivey 0-2), North Idaho 15-41 (Franklin 6-11, Johnson 4-8, Ware 3-10, Petty 2-8, Hunter 0-1, O’Dowd 0-1, Boyd 0-2). Fouled out - Petty. Rebounds - Salt Lake CC 46 (Spivey 13), North Idaho 33 (Hunter 9). Assists - Salt Lake CC 17 (Spivey 9), North Idaho 19 (Boyd 5). Total fouls - Salt Lake CC 15, North Idaho 18. Technicals - None.