This is the game they've been waiting for.

No matter what has happened this season to the Idaho State men's basketball team, everyone on the Bengals' roster has consistently admitted that much.

Through all the tough losses and forgettable games during their 3-10 start, today's 2:05 p.m. tip-off with Northern Colorado at Holt Arena has seemed like a beacon off in the distance.

Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien has called it "the light at the end of the tunne," and always likes to say that this game starts the part of the season "that really matters."

Indeed, today's tilt between Idaho State and Northern Colorado is an important one for the Bengals. For them, it marks the start of Big Sky play.

For every team in the league other than perhaps Portland State, conference play is the only thing that affects their postseason chances. So it is viewed by most as the most important part of the schedule.

Idaho State has bought into that theory big time, and the Bengals couldn't be happier to be entering today's game with some momentum.

On Monday, the Bengals rallied from 10 points down in the final minutes to beat Idaho at home, and that wild finish had everyone involved acting confidently again.

"I think we finally received the proverbial wake-up call," O'Brien said. "We're ready to start conference play."

Junior guard Amorrow Morgan agreed whole-heartedly.

"I think we've been confident the whole team, the whole season," he said. "But we just didn't finish games. We've won one now, and we've got momentum. We've got to come out now and play from the get-go against Northern Colorado. They beat us at home last year, and we want to turn that around and start 1-0 in conference."

It won't be an easy task.

The Bears will come into Holt with a 5-8 record, but they have confidence themselves. While Idaho State was coming back against Idaho, Northern Colorado was rallying from 10 down to beat Northern Arizona 81-79. So not only do the Bears have momentum, they've got a 1-0 start in league play.

But junior guard Donnie Carson insists the Bengals will be ready for whatever the Bears throw at them.

After what Idaho State has gone through this season - three overtime losses and a gauntlet of games that at least one RPI service has labeled toughest schedule in the country - he knows the Bengals will be ready.

"We've got a hell of a resumé," he said. "If we're not prepared for this, then who is?"

Northern Colorado (5-8) at Idaho state (3-10)

When: 2:05 p.m.

Where: Holt Arena

Watch/Listen: www.bigskytv.org/930 AM KSEI

What's at stake:

This will be Idaho State's most important game to date. It is the Bengals' conference opener, and a win will propel them to the top of the Big Sky standings.

Key matchup:

Dan Beitzel vs. Donnie Carson. The Northern Colorado guard ravaged Northern Arizona for 32 points last time out. Carson, Idaho State's best defender, can't let him approach that number today.

Three things about Northern Colorado:

Much like Idaho State, Northern Colorado narrowly missed out on some marquee nonconference wins. The Bears lost at Oregon by two points and close to Colorado State, San Jose State and Fresno State.

Northern Colorado has never qualified for the Big Sky tournament, and coach Tad Boyle said doing so this season is the Bears' main goal.

The Bears are a balanced scoring team. Three of their players average more than 10 points per game.

Happy ending if …

The game is played at Idaho State's standard, slow pace. If the game becomes a battle of offenses, Northern Colorado will have a major advantage.

Sad ending if …

Northern Colorado out-rebounds Idaho State by a significant margin. The Bears beat the Bengals on the boards at Holt Arena last season and walked away with an easy win.

Bottom line:

If Idaho State is serious about turning its season around and challenging for a Big Sky title, this is a game the Bengals must win.