Weber State basketball: Wildcats host NAU Friday, but big showdown looms Saturday

OGDEN — It will arguably be the most anticipated game of the Big Sky regular season and a possible preview of the conference championship game when Weber State hosts Northern Colorado on Saturday night.

But first, the Wildcats have to take care of business against Northern Arizona in the first game of a Friday-Saturday set tonight. The Lumberjacks, if the season ended today, would be the last team to qualify for the Big Sky tournament. Weber State beat Northern Arizona by 25 points the first time the two teams played this season at Flagstaff, Ariz.

So how do the Wildcats focus on the Lumberjacks, knowing all eyes in the Big Sky will be on their Saturday showdown with Northern Colorado?

"Easy," said Weber State guard Damian Lillard. "We just focus on winning our next game. Right now, we ain't worried about Northern Colorado because we don't play them until Saturday. We're focusing on ourselves, really, and rebounding better and playing defense."

The Wildcats had little trouble with Northern Arizona when the two teams played last month. Weber State held the Lumberjacks to 36 percent shooting, outrebounded them by 12 and prevailed, 87-62.

Northern Arizona won four straight games following that loss before dropping its last two conference games to Montana and Northern Colorado. The Lumberjacks took Northern Colorado to overtime on Sunday before losing.

"They're a really good team," Weber State center Steve Panos said of Northern Arizona. "They pretty much have the complete package, a good guard (Cameron Jones), a good inside game. They're a tough team. They're playing well right now, so it's going to be a good challenge for us."

The Wildcats will get an even better challenge on Saturday night. Northern Colorado beat Weber State 84-75 the first time the two teams played this season. The right to host the Big Sky's postseason tournament could be on the line, as the first-place Wildcats currently have a one-game lead over the Bears in the conference standings.

Weber State is 9-2 in Big Sky play, Northern Colorado is 8-3 and Montana is still hanging around at 8-4. The Wildcats are ranked No. 25 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll this week. Northern Colorado is No. 10.

The Bears play at Idaho State tonight prior to facing the Wildcats. If both Weber State and Northern Colorado win tonight, Saturday's game will be the true showdown fans are already expecting it to be.

"I'm sure everyone is thinking about the Northern Colorado game, but I think for the most part everyone's kept a pretty good head, knowing we have to take care of Friday first before we play them," Panos said.

Wildcats on the air

Northern Arizona (11-11, 5-6 Big Sky) at Weber State (15-8, 9-2)

Today, 7 p.m.

TV: none Radio: 1430 AM

e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com