For a few players on the North Idaho College men's basketball roster, this will be the furthest road trip they've made to play in their playing career.

But that's how it goes in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

NIC, which enters this week ranked 23rd in the NJCAA poll, opens SWAC play tonight against 24th ranked Utah State-Eastern in Price.

"We've just got to make sure to get them through the airport and not assume they know where they're going," NIC men's coach Jared Phay said. "But they'll need to get used to the routine of playing in Utah and this conference."

It is 803 miles from Coeur d'Alene to Price, Utah.

SWAC rivals Southern Idaho (seventh) and Salt Lake (14th) are also ranked in this week's poll.

"Honestly, it's how it is every year, and sometimes our record suffers a little bit," Phay said. "But you could see that every year our conference is just as tough."

MEN: Utah State-Eastern (11-1) is second in the conference with 95.6 points per game, with NIC trailing in third with 85 points a game. The two are separated by .5 points a game defensively, with Utah State-Eastern third with 72.2 and NIC fourth with 72.7 a game allowed.

"They're long, really athletic and their guards are really quick," Phay said. "They get up the court really quick. With all the changes with contact, everyone's scoring averages are up, but they're a fast team."

Phay compared the Golden Eagles to Arizona Western, which the Cardinals lost to 92-88 in overtime on Nov. 16 - the team's fourth game of the season or Williston State, who NIC beat 99-89 on Nov. 30.

"Both of those teams were athletic, quick teams," Phay said. "We're playing them at their place, so it will be a tough game."

NIC has won six straight entering tonight's game.

"We're getting there," Phay said. "We played a good nonconference schedule that definitely made us better. We played a lot of close games, so hopefully that will make us better."

Freshman guard Will Dorsey, who injured his ankle in the championship game of the Bigfoot Classic, will be a game-time decision.

"He's still limping around pretty good," Phay said. "We're not sure how much or if he'll play."

WOMEN: The Cardinal women (11-1) enter tonight's conference opener leading the league in scoring defense, allowing 58.1 points a game. Utah State-Eastern (4-7) is the sixth at 92.4 points a game.

Bryanna Adams is third in the conference in scoring, averaging 14 points a game.

Renae Mokrzycki is fifth with 13.3 points and third in rebounding with 9.9 rebounds per game.

Both teams conclude the weekend with games at Colorado Northwestern on Saturday.