NIC MEN'S BASKETBALL: Johnson and Johnson power Cardinals

COEUR d’ALENE — Sophomore Austin Johnson, a transfer from College of Southern Idaho, had 27 points, five rebounds and four assists for North Idaho College in a 122-87 win over Elite Prep of Issaquah, Wash., in the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn-vitational at Rolly Williams Court on Friday.

“Austin’s a good player, but has had a tough time getting into rhythm this year,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “We just kind of let him find his way tonight, and he did a good job of letting the game come to him.”

Terin Johnson, a sophomore from Grand Prairie, Texas, had 22 points and nine rebounds for NIC (10-3), which led 55-33 at halftime.

“It was great to have Terin finally healthy and back in the lineup,” Symons said. “We’re starting to get everyone back and playing the right way right before league begins in a few weeks.”

NIC concludes the tournament today at 1 p.m. against Tacoma.

Dace Pleasant scored 30 points for Elite Prep.

ELITE PREP

Justin White 1-2 0-0 2, Isiah Lopez 2-5 0-0 6, Hudson Yarbrough 5-11 2-3 13, Xyo Velez 6-11 2-4 20, Dace Pleasant 11-18 4-6 30, Christian Van Bruck 3-6 2-2 8, Julian Mays 1-1 0-0 2, Colt Yarbrough 2-8 2-4 6. Totals 31-62 12-19 87.

NORTH IDAHO

Terin Johnson 8-9 6-9 22, Cobi Campbell 3-5 1-3 8, Kyle Karstetter 1-5 3-4 6, Dante Sawyer 4-7 5-6 13, Jalen Skalskiy 4-7 2-2 11, Austin Johnson 9-13 6-8 27, Vaughn Weems 2-7 0-0 4, D’Andre Clermont 3-5 2-5 8, Tayshawn Colvin 2-8 6-8 11, Bryce Henry 4-5 0-2 9, Tanner Tollestrup 1-7 1-2 3. Totals 41–78 32-48 122.

Halftime — NIC 55-33. 3-point goals — EP 13-27 (Lopez 2-4, H. Yarbrough 1-5, Velez 6-7, Pleasant 4-7, Van Bruck 0-1, C. Yarbrough 0-3), NIC 8-24 (Campbell 1-1, Karstetter 1-3, Skalskiy 1-2, Johnson 3-5, Weems 0-3, Colvin 1-3, Henry 1-1, Tollestrup 0-6). Rebounds — EP 23 (Pleasant 6), NIC 39 (T. Johnson 9). Assists — EP 13 (Velez 5), NIC 13 (Campbell 5). Team fouls — EP 30, NIC 20. Fouled out — Lopez, Van Bruck, Pleasant.