Altitude, Big Sky again announce 'Game of the Week' package

OGDEN, Utah -- The Big Sky Conference and Altitude Sports & Entertainment have released their men's basketball schedule for the upcoming season, with this year's slate including eight regular-season games, as well as both semifinals from the 2012 Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship.

This is the fifth season Altitude Sports & Entertainment has televised a Big Sky Conference men's basketball "Game of the Week." This year's regular-season schedule includes three Thursday, three Saturday, one Sunday and one Tuesday game. All nine Big Sky teams will appear at least once, and games will originate from six of the league's nine venues. 

Northern Colorado, the defending Big Sky Conference champions, will appear three times in the package, hosting Eastern Washington at 5 p.m Saturday, Jan. 14; playing at Weber State at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb 4; and hosting Montana State at noon Saturday, Feb. 11.

"We've teamed with Altitude to provide what should be some exciting men's basketball games once again,'' said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. "What makes this package great is the number of primetime Thursday night, Tuesday night, and Saturday afternoon start times. We thank Altitude for making this happen."

The package begins Thursday, Jan. 5, when Montana State travels to Idaho State. The Bobcats are back on Altitude on Thursday, Jan. 19, when they welcome Sacramento State to Bozeman.

Montana, which finished second in the Big Sky last season, will appear in the package three times: the Grizzlies will take on Portland State at the Stott Center on Sunday, Jan. 29, and then host Northern Arizona on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The final "Game of the Week" will air on the final night of the regular-season as Montana and Weber State meet in Missoula.

In addition to televising the semifinals of the men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 6, the Big Sky women's basketball championship will also be televised by Altitude Sports & Entertainment on Saturday, March 10.

Altitude is available within a 10-state territory of the Rocky Mountain Region, including Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Northern New Mexico, Northeast Nevada and Southwest South Dakota. The network is also available on Dish Network channel 410 and DirecTV channel 681.