GAME NOTES: The Weber State Wildcats will open their Big Sky Conference schedule this afternoon when they battle the Northern Colorado Bears at Butler- Hancock Arena. Since opening the season with six losses in their first eight games, the Wildcats have clawed their way back to respectability by winning three of their last four contests. The last time WSU was on the floor the team defeated San Francisco, 62-54. Weber State is a solid 27-17 in conference openers and this past year the squad opened league action with a 61-60 victory over Northern Colorado. As for the Bears, they have dropped six of their last seven contests, including back-to-back setbacks to Northern Arizona (86-70) and Idaho State (76-65). UNC is just 6-8 overall on the season, but at home the team is a much better 5-1. It does not get any easier for the Bears, as they will hit the road after this contest for a small three-game trip. In terms of the all-time series between the two schools on the hardwood, the Wildcats have claimed a victory in both prior meetings.

Offensively the Wildcats have no punch, which is probably why the team is currently posting a meager 5-7 ledger on the year. The team comes into this matchup averaging just 63.4 ppg, while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. Arturas Valeika is the only player currently producing double figures on the season, as the big man is netting 11.3 ppg to go along with an impressive 8.3 rpg. The last time the Wildcats were on the court, the team only scored 62 points, but it was enough to slip past San Francisco by an eight-point margin. In the victory, the team shot 46.7 percent from the floor and made 16-of-22 attempts from the foul line. Steve Panos led the way with 13 points in the contest, while Daviin Davis added 12 points to go along with seven rebounds. As for Valeika, he posted 11 points and grabbed eight boards in the win.

Much like their counterpart, the Bears have had plenty of issues offensively, beginning with their 19.1 turnovers per matchup. On the year, Northern Colorado is producing just 65.2 ppg, while shooting a mere 41.9 percent from the field and an equally poor 32.0 percent from behind the arc. Jabril Banks and Sean Taibi are the only two players averaging double figures on the season. Banks is currently posting 13.7 ppg and a team-best 5.8 rpg on the year, while Taibi is contributing 11.7 ppg. The last time UNC was on the court the team struggled once again offensively, scoring just 65 points en route to an 11-point setback. In the loss to Idaho State, the squad shot a mere 34.6 percent and made only 6- of-19 shots from long range. Banks was the only player in double figures in the loss, netting 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.

The Bears have had issues offensively, but the team should be able to turn things around, especially on its home floor against a bad road team in Weber State.