The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Feb. 23, 2013

While they'll close out the regular season a little later today against rival Southern Idaho, the road to the NJCAA tournament for both men's and women's basketball teams will come through Coeur d'Alene next weekend as North Idaho College hosts the Region 18 tournaments.

BY WAY of Salt Lake's 100-73 win against Colorado Northwestern on Thursday in Rangely, Colo., the Bruins will be the No. 1 seed in next week's Region 18 tournament in Coeur d'Alene.

NIC men's basketball coach Jared Phay said a strong fanbase could also help for next week's tournament.

"As long as we get a decent crowd on Friday, we'll be in good shape," Phay said.

NIC concludes the regular season today with a game against Southern Idaho.

"It's important to come out and play well," Phay said. "Especially if we've got a first-round bye (in the tournament). Whoever we play will have played the night before. We need to play our guys and play to win Saturday night."

This season, NIC (24-4, 12-2 SWAC) has won both games against CSI (19-10, 6-8), winning 51-47 in Twin Falls on Jan. 12 and 75-64 in Coeur d'Alene Feb. 2.

"It's their last home game and they're calling it blackout night," Phay said. "They're selling black shirts and they're going to wear their dark jerseys and we're wearing our home jerseys. It's going to be an interesting night."

CSI was swept on the road by Salt Lake and Snow last week, but are 5-2 in home games, with the lone losses coming to Salt Lake and NIC.

"They played Salt Lake tough (last Thursday) in Salt Lake," Phay said. "They're a much tougher team at home. We just need to stick to the basics and get back in transition, move defensively and not give them any second chance opportunities."

As far as seeds go for the Region 18 men's tournament, Snow (19-9, 7-7 SWAC) will be the No. 3 seed and face Colorado Northwestern (7-22, 0-14) at 2 p.m. on Thursday and No. 4 Southern Idaho (19-19, 6-8) facing Utah State-Eastern (13-15 4-10) in the final game of the day at 7:30.

NIC will play the Snow/Colorado Northwestern winner in a semifinal Friday at 2 p.m. Salt Lake will play the CSI/USU-Eastern winner in the other semifinal at 7:30.

The men's championship game is next Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with the winner moving onto a District Championship game at the Region 1 (Arizona) winner on March 9.

TO THE winner of today's women's game between NIC and CSI will go the No. 1 seed in the Region 18 tournament. NIC (27-2, 12-2) can clinch a second straight outright league title with a win.

If CSI (18-11, 11-3) wins, the teams will share the league title — but CSI will be the No. 1 seed to regionals after the teams split the first two meetings.

Both teams have already clinched byes into Friday’s semifinals. If NIC wins today, the Cardinals play Friday at 5:30 p.m. If they lose, they play at noon.

Other seeds are set as No. 3 Salt Lake (17-10, 8-6) will face No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (13-16, 2-12) to open the tournament next Thursday at noon, with No. 4 Utah State-Eastern (15-12, 6-8) facing No. 5 Snow (9-19, 3-11) at 5:30 p.m.

The winner of next Saturday’s women’s championship advances to nationals in Salina, Kan., March 18-23.

Salt Lake visits Utah State-Eastern today and Snow travels to Colorado Northwestern. Snow, who won the Region 18 tournament last year in Salt Lake, won the previous two games against Colorado Northwestern to clinch the fifth seed.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com