Week ahead

EWU Eagles

Thursday: Northern Arizona, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Northern Colorado, 7:05 p.m.

Outlook: Should be a hot time at Reese Court in the only home games for the Eagles this month. Two weeks ago the Eagles went on the road and held off UNC 88-87 and then lost 109-101 at NAU, the defending regular-season champion. NAU shot 61 percent against the Eagles and features the last two players of the week, Tyrone Bazy, who had 32 points against EWU, and Steven Sir, who has made 19 of his last 24 3-point shots. UNC has lost 29 straight on the road, nine this season.

Idaho Vandals

Tonight: vs. Hawaii, 7, Cowan Spectrum

Saturday: vs. Louisiana Tech, 7, Cowan Spectrum

Outlook: The Rainbow Warriors are trying to avoid a 1-4 conference start for the first time since 1998-99. Hawaii’s three WAC losses are by six, three and two. Louisiana Tech was picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs’ Harry Disy, a former North Idaho College standout, is averaging 5.9 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Monday: at Portland, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Outlook: The Pilots, who are paced by senior guard Darren Cooper (12.2 ppg), are coming off a 57-41 loss at Santa Clara in which they scored only 14 second-half points. Still, they are 6-3 at home, with nine of their 14 losses having come on the road.

WSU Cougars

Saturday: Washington, 3 p.m. (FSN)

Outlook: The Cougars have a shot to claim in-state supremacy with a win over archrival Washington, having dispatched Gonzaga at home earlier this year. The Huskies probably won’t go easily, though. As the conference’s biggest disappointment, a Washington team at 1-5 in the Pac-10 desperately needs a win and is likely to arrive in Pullman raring to go. The Huskies have yet to win a road game this season, perhaps because of the youth on Lorenzo Romar’s squad.