NIC BASKETBALL: A rivalry refreshed ... CSI visits NIC on Saturday for first time since 2016
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College sophomore guard Austin Johnson dribbles to the basket during the Cardinals' game against Big Bend on Dec. 28 at Rolly Williams Court. Johnson, a transfer from Southern Idaho, faces his former team for the first time in Scenic West Conference play on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Coeur d'Alene.
By JASON ELLIOTT
Sports writer
To North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Corey Symons, there’s more than a few reasons that this Saturday’s Scenic West Athletic Conference game is just a little more special than others.
The standings.
The history.
The rivalry.
Anything can happen when conference rival Southern Idaho of Twin Falls comes calling.
NIC (15-6, 3-2 SWAC) and 21st-ranked CSI (17-5, 5-0) will face off for the first time as conference rivals since the Cardinals moved to the Northwest Athletic Conference following the 2015-16 season on Saturday at 3 p.m., following the women’s game, which tips at 1.
“It’s such a big rivalry game,” said Symons, in his 10th season as head coach and 20th overall at the school. “It’s a big game here, and I’ve been trying to reiterate that with our guys and community this week. In the NWAC, we kind of forgot about this rivalry. It’s always a big game and we’ve got to be ready to roll.”
CSI’s women (20-4, 3-1), also ranked 21st in the latest NJCAA poll, have beaten NIC (7-12, 1-4) twice this season in Twin Falls.
CSI won 75-53 on Nov. 3, then 81-41 one week later.
The Golden Eagle women also won seven of the last eight conference games between the schools.
In the last men’s game, NIC beat CSI 72-70 in Twin Falls on Dec. 5, 2019 — the only game between the two men's teams since the Cardinals left the SWAC.
CSI's men and women haven't played in Coeur d’Alene since 2016.
“They’re on a 25-game conference winning streak and haven’t lost in conference in two years,” Symons said. “It’s a big game for us and if we can win, we’ll get back into the mix as far as being in the top part of the conference. If CSI gets this one, they’re in the drivers’ seat. If we do, we can get on a run and get toward the top of the league.”
As for the history, Symons can recall a lot from his time on the bench at NIC, both as an assistant coach to taking over as head coach upon the departure of Jared Phay following the 2013-14 season — for the head coaching job at CSI, with Symons promoted from assistant coach at NIC.
Symons has also been referencing a 75-foot buzzer beater by NIC's Melvin Jones to knock off CSI in February 2009.
“They’ve had such good teams, and so have we,” Symons said. “It’s just big for us to have this back in our community. When we played them a few years ago down there, we had the lead with four seconds left. They had six players on the court, but never got called for it and got a steal to try to tie the game. Every year, it’s just a big rivalry.”
CSI won at College of Southern Nevada 89-81 in its last game on Saturday. NIC outlasted Southern Nevada 83-82 in overtime last Thursday in Las Vegas.
“This is a big game for us,” Symons said. “Those rivalry games, if you can beat them, you have a good year. It’s a big one for us because it’s CSI. It’s always a big one.”