Cardinal wrestlers join the 700 club

- WRESTLING

LAS VEGAS — It was a big dual for North Idaho College already, facing off with Western Wyoming, the second-ranked team in the NJCAA, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Then, the Cardinals turned it up a notch.

In overtime, with his team trailing 18-16, NIC sophomore heavyweight Connor Sullivan notched a takedown to win 3-1, giving the Cardinals a 19-18 dual victory over the Mustangs on Thursday, the program’s 700th dual win.

“It was big, not only getting to 700, but having Western tied for second in the polls (with Iowa Lakes),” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. “The guys wrestled well, all of them. To have it come down to heavyweight and Connor, it was fitting. If he gets taken down, we lose. But if he takes his guy down, we win. The guys were really excited. It was a great team effort. Those 700 wins touch a lot of wrestlers over the years.”

NIC started its program in the 1970-71 season. Whitcomb wrestled at NIC during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons, when the Cardinals won back-to-back national titles and Whitcomb was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at nationals in 1987.

“It’s a pretty humbling experience,” Whitcomb said. “I’ve either competed or coached in at least half of those wins. It really means a lot to me. I don’t know if it dawns on any of our guys yet, but it’s a big deal. Next year, it will be our 50th year. Personally, I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Later, NIC beat UNLV 48-6 to improve to 701-106-4 in program history.

NIC competes in the Cliff Keen Invitational today and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

125 — Jaxon Cole, WWC, p. Jacob Frias, 3:00. 133 — Nicholas Hara, NIC, d. Joey Revelli, 6-2. 141 — Dylan Lockwood, NIC, d. Kyle Evans, 7-5. 149 — Hasaan Hawthorne, NIC, d. Jake Thompson, 13-6. 157 — Samuel Freeman, WWC, d. Cooper McCullough, 10-8. 165 — Izaiah Duran, NIC, md. Jace Anderson, 18-4. 174 — Trager Abatti, NIC, d. Wyatt Monroe, 3-2. 184 — Tucker Tomlinson, WWC, d. Christian Grover, 11-6. 197 — Connor Kirkland, WWC, p. Hunter Gregerson, 5:00. 285 — Connor Sullivan, NIC, d. Landon Brown, 3-1.

- MEN’S BASKETBALL

North Idaho 111

Shoreline 83

COEUR d’ALENE — Nate Pryor had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Cardinals in a win over the Dolphins in the opening night of the Coeur d’Alene Inn-vitational at Rolly Williams Court.

RayQuan Evans had 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Alphonso Anderson 16 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots for NIC (4-0), which faces Grays Harbor tonight at 7:30.

Tavier Tinnin had 23 points and six rebounds for Shoreline (0-4).

SHORELINE

Anjaylo Lloyd 4-10 6-7 18, Jomar Ezell 0-0 0-2 0, Ethan Axton 0-0 0-0 0, Mussie Teclemarian 3-11 4-8 10, Elijah Williams 1-4 1-2 4, Issac Adair 1-3 2-4 4, Ronnie Davis 0-0 1-2 1, David Woodard 1-3 0-0 3, Keilyn Myers 0-0 0-1 0, Dawit Nuguse 3-9 0-0 6, Ray Wantinade 3-6 5-8 14, Tavier Tinnin 9-18 4-7 23, Nic McLean 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-66 23-41 83.

NORTH IDAHO

RayQuan Evans 7-12 4-6 18, Nate Pryor 7-15 5-6 19, Emmitt Taylor III 5-16 4-5 1, Phillip Malatare 2-8 4-5 8, Iain McLaughlin 0-2 0-0 0, Alphonso Anderson 5-6 3-4 16, Yusuf Mohammed 1-1 2-5 4, James Carlson 2-6 3-8 8, Jaden Dewar 2-2 2-3 6, Jarod Greene 6-7 1-2 13, Ismael Valdez 0-1 1-2 1, Drew Sheridan 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-78 29-46 111.

Halftime — NIC 45-33. 3-point goals — SCC 10-24 (Lloyd 4-10, Teclemarian 0-1, Williams 1-2, Adair 0-2, Woodard 1-2, Wantinabe 3-6, Tinnin 1-1), NIC 8-25 (Evans 0-1, Pryor 0-2, Taylor III 4-14, McLaughlin 0-1, Anderson 3-3, Carlson 1-3, Sheridan 0-1). Rebounds — SCC 42 (Nuguse, Tinnin 6), NIC 58 (Evans 11). Assists — SCC 8 (Lloyd 3), NIC 16 (Evans 8). Team fouls — SCC 31, NIC 33. Fouled out — Woodard, Nuguse, Tinnin, McLaughlin.