Preview: North Idaho Cardinal at Colorado Northwestern Spartans

RANGELY, Colo. (Interstat) — The North Idaho Cardinal visit the Colorado Northwestern Spartans in a men’s junior college basketball matchup on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, with both teams seeking to halt losing streaks.

North Idaho (7-6) enters on a four-game skid, most recently an 81-62 road loss to Salt Lake on Thursday. The Cardinal will rely on forward Aly Toure, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds in that defeat. Toure has averaged 8.3 rebounds over his last four contests.

Colorado Northwestern (3-12) has lost five straight, including a 94-50 home defeat to Southern Idaho on Thursday. Guard Carter Killian has been a consistent bright spot for the Spartans, scoring in double figures in three consecutive games and averaging 13.0 points and 4.3 assists during that stretch.

The game presents a contrast in recent fortunes, though both squads have struggled. North Idaho’s record reflects more competitive results, including a three-game win streak in late November and early December. Colorado Northwestern’s season has been defined by defensive struggles, allowing an average of 89.2 points during its current five-game losing streak.

A key matchup will be in the frontcourt, where Toure’s rebounding prowess for North Idaho will challenge a Spartan team that has been outmatched physically in recent outings. Conversely, Killian’s playmaking for the Spartans will test a Cardinal defense looking to regain its early-season form.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest is projected to be a high-scoring deadlock, with a predicted final score of 100-100.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are slated to meet again in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Jan. 24.

For North Idaho, this begins a critical stretch of conference play. For Colorado Northwestern, it represents one of its final chances to build momentum at home before a difficult road slate.

Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at Colorado Northwestern Community College.