RANGELY, Colo. (January 2, 2020) – The Colorado Northwestern Community College men's basketball team will push into Scenic West Athletic Conference play this week, with the new year giving the Spartans new life heading into league play.
 
The Spartans will travel to face nationally-ranked Salt Lake Community College in a SWAC opener on Saturday. CNCC finished at 2-16 in the preseason, playing strong in several games in a Pima Community College-hosted tournament over the past weekend.
 
CNCC coach Nathan Terrin said his program understands the challenges that are forthcoming in Scenic West play.

"We are playing much better and looking forward to opening up conference play," he said. "We have a tough SLCC team that has a lot of talent ahead of us in a tough road environment but we are up for the challenge."
 
Salt Lake will provide a stiff challenge for the Spartans, entering with an NJCAA national ranking and an overall record of 14-4. The Bruins went 2-1 in last weekend's 'Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout', falling in the championship game of the tournament hosted by Mesa Community College.
 
Saturday's game at Salt Lake will start at 3:00 p.m. inside the Lifetime Activities Center in Taylorsville, Utah. Colorado Northwestern will return home for its Scenic West home-opener on Jan. 11 against the College of Southern Idaho inside Hefley Gym.