CSUN UPDATE: WINNING BIG SKY HOOP TITLE NOT EASY.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

For most of the season, the Big Sky Tournament appeared headed to Montana or California. But teams shouldn't make travel arrangements just yet. If the conference season ended today, Washington would host.

Eastern Washington, under first-year coach Ray Giacoletti, has won seven of its past eight conference games, including a victory over Cal State Northridge.

CSUN (15-9, 8-3) and Eastern Washington (13-8, 8-3) are tied for first in the Big Sky, but CSUN still has to play at Eastern Washington on March 1. CSUN fell into a tie for first after a surprising 89-84 loss Thursday to Idaho State.

The regular-season winner hosts the tournament and if the Matadors harbor hopes to do that, they'll have to beat the Eagles on the road.

If CSUN beats Eastern Washington and the teams tie for first, the tiebreaker is how they fared against the next-best team. Right now, that team is Montana State at 6-4. CSUN already beat Montana State, and Eastern Washington lost to Montana State. Therefore, CSUN wins the tiebreaker.

Victories over Eastern Washington and Montana State are key for CSUN. But after Thursday's loss, every game seems crucial. CSUN has nine days off before hosting Northern Arizona (11-10, 5-5), a team it lost to this year.

``We want to win, and our goal (to win the Big Sky) is clearly stated,'' Brian Heinle said. ``We just need to sustain a level of intensity and a level of fire from the start of each game and sustain it all the way through. We're still looking for that. We've just got to get back to the drawing board and start practicing for NAU.''