NIC tops Snow

North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Jared Phay tried to bluff, but he couldn’t keep a straight face.

Phay was recapping the master plan behind Scott Stockwell’s clutch 3-pointer that helped propel NIC past Snow 88-79 in overtime Saturday at Christianson Gym.

“It’s exactly how I drew it up,” Phay began. “I wanted him way in the corner like that and. … “

And then the coach came clean. “No, he just hit it,” Phay said, smiling. “He hit a big one and we needed it.”

Stockwell’s 3 gave NIC an 82-77 lead with 50 seconds left and Nick Livi’s steal and layup seconds later sealed the Cardinals’ victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak. NIC improved to 13-11, 5-9 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference. Snow (17-7, 9-5) had won five straight, including a 57-51 victory over NIC on Friday.

This one had repeat written all over it as NIC led most of the way before Snow rallied in the second half, much like the night before. The Cardinals’ 10-point lead dissolved as Cris Hoopes and 2005-06 SWAC player of the year Geoff Payne starting getting free in the lane, just as they did Friday.

Snow poked in front twice, 61-60 and 63-62, but Shawn Henderson answered with a pair of field goals to give NIC a 66-63 lead. The Cardinals led 72-69 after Stockwell’s free throws with 1:24 left, but Snow called a timeout – which seemed foolish at the time because Payne had just received a pass on the low block – and diagrammed a set play for Mark Mulford.

The freshman guard came around a double screen and drilled a 3-pointer to even the score at 72. Livi had an open look at a 15-footer, but it rimmed out just before the final buzzer.

Livi bounced back in overtime, hitting 4 of 4 free throws, assisting on Jamaal Rolle’s layup and adding the clinching steal and layup in the final minute.

“I was a little worried going into overtime because we’ve lost three in a row and you don’t want to start getting that losing feeling,” Phay said. “I was concerned because they had the momentum, but I’m really proud of how we battled back. It’s just about heart. Nick always plays hard. He had a couple of key steals for us and that was big.”

Both teams’ offenses heated up after sluggish showings Friday. Snow, led by Payne’s 22 points and eight rebounds, made 50.8 percent from the floor. NIC hit 49.1 percent of its field-goal attempts and 26 of 30 at the foul line. Snow was just 8 of 18 on free throws.

Six Cardinals reached double figures, led by Livi’s 18 and Henderson’s 15. Kerry Williams played all 45 minutes and finished with 12 points and six assists.

NIC entertains last-place Colorado Northwestern on Friday and Saturday.

North Idaho 88, Snow 79

Snow (17-7, 9-5)–Peterson 2-2 2-2 8, Roberts 1-4 0-0 2, Hoopes 6-7 0-3 12, Payne 9-18 4-8 22, Quinney 0-1 0-0 0, Munford 3-8 1-2 10, Gameron 1-3 1-1 3, Lamb 0-0 0-0 0, Jorgensen 0-0 0-0 0, Sturt 5-10, 0-2 14, Clifford 4-8 0-0 8. Totals 31-61 8-18 79.

North Idaho (13-11, 5-9)–Williams 4-8 3-4 12, Stockwell 3-6 4-4 12, Livi 3-14 11-12 18, Parks 3-6 0-0 6, Henderson 6-10 3-4 15, Rolle 5-7 1-2 11, Wesley 3-4 2-2 10, Owens 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 28-57 26-30 88.

Halftime–North Idaho 39, Snow 34. 3-point goals–Snow 9-16 (Sturt 4-7, Munford 3-6, Peterson 2-2, Gameron 0-1), North Idaho 6-17 (Wesley 2-3, Stockwell 2-4, Williams 1-3, Livi 1-5). Fouled out–Munford. Rebounds–Snow 38 (Payne 8), North Idaho 28 (Parks 11). Assists–Snow 22 (Hoopes 6), North Idaho 16 (Williams 6). Total fouls–Snow 22, North Idaho 19. Technical fouls–Lamb. A–NA.