College Basketball Tonight

EASTERN WASHINGTON AT GONZAGA

The Bulldogs (4-2) play host to the Eagles (1-7) in a 7 p.m. non-conference match in the Martin Centre.

At a glance: The freshest element in this matchup is the return of EWU center Melvin Lewis, who was cleared to play this week after an investigation into the validity of credits he received in junior college. The 6-foot-8 senior became a force under the basket for the Eagles toward the end of last season. “He’s not ready to play in a game situation yet,” first-year EWU coach Steve Aggers said. “He has a lot of conditioning to do, so we need to work him back slowly.” The Eagles can use the help under the basket as GU’s “frontline guys - Snider, Kinloch and Rogers - are outstanding players, as good a front line as we’ve played,” Aggers said. “We’ve got to be able to rebound and compete physically with them on the front line.” There shouldn’t be too many rebounds to go around as Eagles center Adam Dean nets 67 percent of his shots and GU’s Scott Snider has put in 75.5 percent. The Bulldogs have played consistently hard, but not consistently well, coach Dan Fitzgerald said. In Eastern, he sees a team that has shown considerable improvement over the clubs of the past four years. “You can see in all the little things that they’re much better,” Fitzgerald said. “And with Melvin back, they’re going to get a lot better.” … EWU guard Curtis Porter (13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is expected to return tonight after missing one game to complete a first-semester course.

Gonzaga: Paul Rogers, 15.5 ppg; Scott Snider, 8.0 rpg; Kyle Dixon, 6.2 apg. Eastern Washington: D’mitri Rideout, 13.9 ppg; Adam Dean, 5.9 rpg; Travis King, 2.2 apg.

Radio/TV: KJRB (790 AM) with Dick Wright 15 minutes before tipoff. KSBN (1230 AM) with Larry Weir. TV: Prime Sports Northwest.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN AT IDAHO

Idaho (3-3) concludes finals week with a game that should be roughly as challenging as an open-book exam. NAIA Rocky Mountain College (3-11), of Billings, Mont., visits at 7:05 at the Kibbie Dome.

At a glance: “It’s a game we should perform well,” UI coach Joe Cravens said. However, Idaho will perform without guard Shawn Dirden, who has been suspended for one game. Before the season started, Dirden was involved in a dispute with a neighbor and charged with assault. He eventually pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and his one-game suspension was handed down this week after the situation was made public in a newspaper article. Sophomore guard Kris Baumann will start in his place. Rocky Mountain was swatted by Lewis-Clark State College 97-64 in Lewiston on Wednesday night.

Idaho: Dirden, 15.7 ppg; Reggie Rose, 13.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg; Harrison, 11.4 ppg, 11.8 rpg. Rocky Mountain: Russinov 15.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg; Big Back, 15.5 ppg.

Radio: KPRL (1400 AM) in Moscow; KVNI (1080 AM) in Coeur d’Alene.

, DataTimes