Eastern Oregon at Idaho State

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: Reed Gym

TV: www.bigskytv.org

Radio: 930 AM KSEI

What's at stake:

A fast start. Idaho State can realistically be 1-0 for the first time in 11 years and for the first time under third-year coach Joe O'Brien. In each of the past two seasons, the Bengals have faced tough road tests in their openers and lost to Marquette and Iowa, then faced uphill battles the rest of the way. A win against Eastern Oregon would give Idaho State early momentum for the first time in three seasons.

Key Matchup:

Jordan Gregg vs. Demetrius Monroe. This will be a good test for Idaho State's power forwards. Gregg is the Mountaineers' leading scorer, averaging more than 16 points per game, and Monroe and Chron Tatum will need to play good defense against him.

Three things about Eastern Oregon:

- Eastern Oregon and Idaho State have each beaten Montana Tech this season. The Mountaineers beat the Orediggers 88-61, while the Bengals only defeated them 73-55.

- The Mountaineers advanced to the NAIA national tournament last year and finished off their season with a stellar 26-6 record.

- Nine of Eastern Oregon's players hail from the state of Washington.

Happy ending if …

Idaho State keeps its turnovers to a minimum. In two exhibition games, the Bengals have given the ball away 21 and 17 times. Get that number closer to 10, and Idaho State will hold a huge advantage.

Sad ending if …

The Bengals look ahead to their upcoming trip to Hawaii. Eastern Oregon is good enough to upset Idaho State if the Bengals don't play with a sense of urgency in their opener.

Bottom line

This is a game Idaho State is expected to win and will only feel good about if it wins. With Idaho State's difficult nonconference schedule, the Bengals can't afford to lose winnable games at home. Said O'Brien: "The pressure is on us for this one."