College Basketball Tonight

NIC at Eastern Utah, Colorado Northwestern

North Idaho College (21-4, 9-4 SWAC) tries to break up a second-place logjam against Eastern Utah (20-5, 8-4) tonight at 6:30 PST in Price. NIC faces Colorado Northwestern (6-16, 1-11) on Saturday night in Rangely.

NIC’s women (16-7, 6-7) play CEU (16-8, 6-6) and CNCC (1-19, 1-11) 2 hours prior to the men’s games.

At a glance: NIC is one of four teams with four SWAC losses in pursuit of Utah Valley (11-1). Eastern Utah edged NIC 81-79 last month behind forwards Ime Udoka (18 points) and Versile Shaw (22), and guard Noel Jackson (24).

Shaw (sprained ankle) and Udoka (thumb injury) missed substantial portions of a 72-69 win over Colorado Northwestern last week. Both should be ready for NIC.

CNCC, 91-54 losers to NIC in January, has had several recent close-call defeats, heightening NIC coach Rolly Williams’ trepidation. “They’re always dangerous,” he said.

, DataTimes