Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Previewing Thursday’s Big Sky games

WEBER STATE at SOUTHERN UTAH, 7 p.m. MST
Betting line: Weber State -15.5
KenPom gives Weber State a 90 percent chance of winning

Last time: Weber State 77, Southern Utah 50. WSU held SUU to 31.1 percent shooting (19-61) and the Wildcats roared to a 45-16 lead by half.

What’s at stake: With a win, WSU can move into a tie with Montana for first place in the league standings.

IDAHO STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA, 6:30 p.m. MST
Betting line: Idaho State -3.5
KenPom gives Idaho State a 65 percent chance of winning

Last time: Idaho State 88, Northern Arizona 66. Bengals sophomore guard Geno Luzcando hit all three of his 3-point attempts, went 10 for 10 from the field and 7 for 8 from the charity stripe on the way to a career-high 30 points.

What’s at stake: Idaho State needs this game. Head coach Bill Evans and his players have won seven of eight and three in a row, but that’s only been good enough to give them a 1/2-game lead on Idaho for fourth place. A loss to Northern Arizona or Southern Utah on Saturday, and the Bengals could be in danger of tumbling in the standings. They finish the regular season at home against UM and MSU and on the road at EWU and Idaho.

EASTERN WASHINGTON at SACRAMENTO STATE, 8:05 p.m. MST
Betting line: Eastern Washington -2
KenPom gives Eastern Washington a 52 percent chance of winning

Last time: Eastern Washington 74, Sacramento State 67. In a game EWU head coach Jim Hayford called “the worst shooting performance I’ve seen as Eastern’s head coach” the Eagles outscored the Hornets 19-5 from the foul line (EWU went 1 for 20 from 3). 

What’s at stake: The Eagles are 10-0 at home but 4-9 away from Cheney. Sac State, meanwhile, is trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since January 2012.

IDAHO at PORTLAND STATE 8:05 p.m. MST
Betting line: Portland State -3
KenPom gives Portland State a 60 percent chance of winning

Last time: Idaho 56, Portland State 55. The Vikings had their worst shooting performance of the season against a conference opponent (35.2 percent shooting), and the Vandals scratched out a close win thanks to 15 offensive rebounds.

What’s at stake: Portland State has lost five of six and is in desperate need of a feel-good win. Idaho is continuing to try and stay afloat while leading-scorer Victor Sanders recovers from injury.
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