NIC hoop teams open Region 18 tourney today

EPHRAIM, Utah - The Region 18 men's and women's basketball tournaments tip off today on the campus of Snow College, starting with the No. 3-seeded North Idaho College women facing the No. 6 seed Colorado Northwestern Spartans at 11 a.m. PST.

NIC (21-9) won all three games during the regular season against Colorado Northwestern (7-21).

They will be followed by the third-seeded NIC men (20-10) against sixth seed Colorado Northwestern (8-21). NIC won two of three games, one in Rangely, Colo., with the Spartans winning 64-63 at home on Feb. 6.

The Salt Lake women (24-6) and Southern Idaho men (26-4) are the No. 1 seeds, with the Salt Lake men (24-6) and CSI women (27-3) the second seeds - both earning opening round byes.

Championship games are scheduled for Saturday, with the women's game at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 6:30. The women's champion earns an automatic berth to the NJCAA tournament in Salina, Kan., March 17-22. The men's champion will host the winner of the Arizona Region next Saturday for a berth to the NJCAA tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., March 17-22.

All tournament games will be streamed online at www.youtubecom/snowbadgerTV.

REGION 18 TOURNAMENTS

at Snow College, Ephraim, Utah

Times PST

Thursday

Game 2 - No. 3 North Idaho (20-10) vs. No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (8-21), 1 p.m.

Game 4 - No. 4 Utah State-Eastern (20-9) vs. No. 5 Snow (15-14), 6:30

Friday

Game 6 - Winner Game 2 vs. No. 2 Salt Lake (24-6), 1 p.m. (semifinal)

Game 8 - Winner Game 4 vs. No. 1 Southern Idaho (26-4), 6:30 (semifinal)

Saturday

Game 10 - Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 6:30 p.m. (winner to host winner of Region 1 (Arizona) on March 8 for berth to NJCAA tournament.)

Thursday

Game 1 - No. 3 North Idaho (21-9) vs. No. 6 Colorado Northwestern (7-21), 11 a.m.

Game 2 - No. 4 Snow (13-15) vs. No. 5 Utah State-Eastern (13-16), 4:30 p.m.

Friday

Game 5 - Winner Game 1 vs. No. 2 Southern Idaho (27-3), 11 a.m. (semifinal)

Game 7 - Winner Game 3 vs. No. 1 Salt Lake (24-6), 4:30 p.m. (semifinal)

Saturday

Game 9 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 4 p.m. (championship game, winner receives automatic berth to NJCAA tournament)