RIVERTON, Wyo. (Interstat) — The Central Wyoming Rustlers will open their 2025-26 men’s junior college basketball season on their home court Friday, Oct. 31, against the Utah State Eastern Eagles.

Both teams enter the Halloween night contest with identical 0-0 records, marking the first official action for either squad since the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

The Eagles last took the court in a narrow 79-78 road loss to Southern Idaho on March 8, 2024. The Rustlers’ most recent outing was a 82-65 defeat at Gillette on Feb. 29, 2024.

Friday’s game will be the first of three scheduled meetings between the Region IX rivals this season. The teams are set to face each other again on Nov. 22 in Price, Utah, and once more in Riverton on Dec. 5.

The matchup kicks off a challenging opening stretch for both programs. Utah State Eastern will travel to face Western Wyoming the following night. Central Wyoming, meanwhile, will remain at home to host Lamar on Saturday before a road test at Salt Lake on Nov. 4.