Courtesy The Register-Guard

EVERETT, Wash. — Lane Community College's return to the men's Final Four came to an early end on Saturday.

North Idaho pulled away late in the second half to defeat the Titans 85-78 in the semifinals of the Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament at Everett Community College.

The Cardinals (30-2) outscored Lane 15-8 in the final 7:22 to snap a 70-70 tie.

The Titans (27-4), who were playing in the semifinals for the first time since 1999, trailed by eight with less than three minutes to play but back-to-back 3-pointers by Tarik Cool and Rodney Hounshell cut Lane's deficit to 78-76 with 2:37 left.

The Titans had two chances to tie or take the lead but missed on a pair of layup attempts over the next minute before a 3-pointer by Emmitt Taylor with 1:17 to play put the Cardinals up 81-76.

Cool finished with 24 points and seven assists for Lane, which went 11-for-38 from the 3-point line and got no points from its bench.

Lezjon Bonds also scored 21 for the Titans, Hounshell scored 13 and Lucas Wilson had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Nate Pryor had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the defending NWAC champion Cardinals.