The crowd buzzed with electricity, wondering if they would see a fourth overtime at Christianson Gymnasium.
With 1:40 left on the game clock in triple overtime, sophomore Connor White hit a 3-pointer to put the Cardinal men up 79-78. With 7.5 seconds remaining, McKay LaSalle of Eastern Utah missed a 3-pointer and fouled out, leaving Keon Lewis to make both foul shots, putting NIC up 81-78.
Michael Middlebrooks blocked a potential buzzer-beater just past the half court line to end the game as NIC defeated Eastern Utah with a final score of 81-78.
“It was a good one, a crazy one,” said head coach Jared Phay. “I don’t even know if you can explain this one in words! I told them not to panic and keep fighting. We kept doing what we were doing offensively but it was really about the defensive effort and that’s where they really stepped it up.”
Lewis hit a floater at the end of regulation to tie the game at 55-55. Kaj Sherman slammed a missed shot in at the buzzer to tie the game at 63-63 and put the game in double overtime.
Lewis led NIC hitting 11 of 13 free throws and scoring 19 points. Antoine Hosley followed with 15 points. Middlebrooks collected 21 rebounds and added 12 points and Sherman battled for 19 rebounds and tacked on 10 points.
“I told my teammates to keep calm and keep fighting,” Lewis said. “Some shots weren’t going to fall but we had to just keep pushing through. We have a few gaps to fill on the defensive end.”
NIC shot 11.9 percent from the 3-point line making only five of 42 attempts.
“This was a crazy game,” Hosley said. “It was one of the craziest games I’ve ever played in, but I’m just glad we came out on top. In the end we kept calm but we have to guard better and get more buckets.”
Hosley hit five of seven 3-pointers and finished with 22 points as the NIC men avenged a previous loss by burying Colorado Northwestern 81-51 in Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball last Thursday night. Tyrell Lewis added 15 points and Middlebrooks grabbed 14 rebounds for NIC (19-5, 5-4 SWAC), which snapped a four-game losing streak started by a loss at Colorado Northwestern on Jan. 21.
NIC shot 57 percent from the field and outscored Colorado Northwestern in second chance points, 13-0. NIC also outscored their opponent in points off the bench 20-14.
Sherman scored 14 points and earned seven rebounds that game. Jordan McCloud scored 14 points and had nine rebounds.
NIC dominated throughout the game as they led 33-18 at the half and never looked back.
NIC will host Salt Lake Community College Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Snow College Saturday at 5 p.m. and the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) on Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
The Cardinals are fighting for seeding as they travel down the last stretch of the season before the NJCAA Region 18 tournament begins in Salt Lake on March 8.
