CSI hits warp speed while cruising past NIC

North Idaho College enjoyed an 11-point lead early in the second half. The next minute, NIC’s lead was down to two. A minute later, the Cardinals trailed by four.

Then it got worse.

College of Southern Idaho overwhelmed the Cardinals in the final 16 minutes of the second half to the tune of 52-15 and posted a convincing 101-75 Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory Saturday at Christianson Gym.

The sixth-ranked Golden Eagles (9-0) fell far short of their 127.9 scoring average, but the victory was impressive nonetheless. CSI’s first six baskets of the second half were 3-pointers – the last five erasing a 60-49 deficit in stunningly quick fashion.

“Honestly, I was dumbfounded,” said NIC coach Jared Phay, whose club slipped to 6-3. “It was like, ‘Wow.’ And they were in transition. It wasn’t like they were running some set. It was pass, boom, pass, boom.”

Backup guard DeCarlos Riley went 5 for 5 beyond the arc in the second half en route to scoring 21 points in 19 minutes. Three of CSI’s five double-figures scorers came off the bench as the Golden Eagles’ depth wore down NIC.

“Man, they came out hitting,” said Cardinals sophomore guard Scott Stockwell, who had nine points, six steals and four assists. “It all comes down to getting back. We just kind of ran out of gas and they kept coming with sub after sub. We didn’t come back with an answer.”

The pace was frenetic in the first half, too, but NIC held its own as guard Nick Livi scored 15 of his 27 points. The Cardinals committed 16 turnovers against CSI’s relentless defense, but also converted a number of easy buckets when they handled the full-court press.

NIC broke from a 46-all halftime score with a 14-3 run that was aided when CSI’s Brandon Stores was called for a technical foul. But the Cards’ 60-49 lead was short-lived as Mo Taukiuvea, a transfer from Dixie State, Derek Lorenzen, Reggie Guyton and Riley combined for five 3-pointers. Guyton is the only starter of the four.

“We rely on that,” CSI coach Barret Peery said. “Our bench is key to us winning. We got 1 through 13 contributing tonight.”

Brad Garrett came in averaging a team-high 17.5 points, but he made just 1 of 7 shots and scored four points. There were plenty of Golden Eagles to make up for Garrett’s off night. CSI shot 51.3 percent from the field, 50 percent on 3s.

“They’re very athletic,” Stockwell said. “They’ve got everything – shooters, jumpers, rebounders, big guys. You just have to try to beat them with your smarts.”

Forward Brian Morris, typically one of NIC’s primary threats, was limited to 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Reserve wing Shawn Henderson provided a boost with 12 points, but the rest of NIC’s bench contributed just four points.

“We did get tired,” said Phay, who joked, “I was tired, just watching, so I’m sure they were tired.”

The teams meet again tonight at 7:30.