REGION 18 MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: NIC falls in semis to CSI in OT

EPHRAIM, Utah — Even playing without Vaughn Weems, the leading scorer in the NJCAA, the North Idaho College Cardinals nearly played its way into the championship game of the Region 18 men's basketball tournament. 

Third-seeded NIC led by 11 points in the first half and late in regulation and overtime before falling 92-91 to second-seeded College of Southern Idaho in a semifinal game Friday at the Horne Activity Center on the campus of Snow College. 

NIC (18-13) took a 91-90 lead with 22 seconds left in overtime on a jumper by Ajayi Simmons. 

NIC missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds. 

"We had a two-point lead and gave up an and-one," NIC coach Corey Symons said. "Kind of a tough way to go."

Weems missed the game for personal reasons, back in his hometown of Seattle.

"Our guys really stepped up and played well, and took on extra stuff without him," Symons said.

Dunn's three-point play with 10 seconds left in regulation put CSI up 84-83. 

A free throw with 4 seconds left by NIC's Ne'quan Brown, who led all scorers with 22 points, forced overtime tied at 84. 

NIC led 30-19 on a dunk by Brown with 4:02 left in the first half. 

CSI went up 77-70 on a basket by Dunn with 5:30 left in regulation. 

CSI will play top-seeded Snow (30-1) today at 2 p.m. PST for the Region 18 title, and the chance to host a play-in game to nationals next week. Snow held off fourth-seeded Salt Lake (19-12) 87-84. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Ne'quan Brown 8-1- 4-8 22, Deng Diew 6-9 7-11 19, Dace Pleasant 4-12 2-2 12, Jacori Ervin 3-4 2-2 8, Tayshawn Colvin 2-3 0-0 5, Sam Marbury 7-13 2-2 18, Ajayi Simmons 3-6 0-0 7, Jeremiah Sibley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-57 17-25 91 

SOUTHERN IDAHO 

Tanner Hayhurst 7-12 2-2 19, Khayri Dunn 7-13 4-4 19, Walker Timme 3-5 2-3 8, Nathan Ahner 2-4 0-0 6, Isaac Hawkins 1-4 2-5 4, Jalen Lyn 6-8 0-1 13, Amarco Doyle 4-10 1-2 11, Dale Griffin 2-4 2-2 8, Samuel Lupumba 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 33-63 15-21 92. 

Halftime: NIC 38-33. Regulation: 84-84. 3-point goals: NIC 8-17 (Brown 2-2, Pleasant 2-5, Colvin 1-2, Marbury 2-4, Simmons 1-4), CSI 11-25 (Hayhurst 3-6, Dunn 1-4, Ahner 2-4, Hawkins 0-1, Lyn 1-1, Doyle 2-6, Griffin 2-3). Rebounds: NIC 33 (Brown 8), CSI 28 (Hayhurst, Doyle 6). Assists: NIC 10 (Brown, Diew, Pleasant, Marbury 2), CSI 20 (Dunn 6). Fouled out: Ervin, Hawkins. Total fouls: NIC 18, CSI 20.  

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