COMING UP: With Christmas break in the rear view mirror and 10 days removed from its last game, The Evergreen State College (5-8 overall, 2-3 CCC) hits the road for a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball games. The Geoducks play College of Idaho (7-6, 2-2) in Caldwell on Wednesday and Eastern Oregon (6-8, 2-2) in La Grande on Thursday.
 
FOLLOW THE GEODUCKS AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Live stats and a pay-per-view video stream are available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/yoteathletics/.
 
FOLLOW THE GEODUCKS AT EASTERN OREGON: Live stats and a pay-per-view video stream are available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/eou/.
 
FOLLOW THE GEODUCKS: Fans can follow all Evergreen men's basketball home games via either live stats or pay-per-view live video at  www.stretchinternet.com/evergreen/#. John Hammargren is in his fourth year as play-by-play announcer for the Geoducks.
 
ABOUT THE GEODUCKS: Evergreen will attempt to put a three-game conference losing streak to an end when it returns to CCC play against College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. The Geoducks pace the conference in free throw percentage at .769, are fourth with 9.7 made three-pointers per contest, and are fifth with 8.4 steals per game. They are upside down in point differential, scoring 82.8 per game while allowing 88.4, and also in rebound margin, grabbing 36.5 compared to 39.6 for their opponents. Junior post Danny Powell is the CCC's top free throw percentage shooter at .897 while making nearly six per game, and he ranks second in both scoring average at 21.5 and rebounding average at 11.0. Several other Geoducks are among the best in the conference, among them senior forward Alix Hernandez with 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Senior forward Brock Otis scores 13.3 points per game and junior point guard Jarrick Mitchell contributes 3.5 assists per contest.
 
ABOUT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: The Coyotes, winners of two straight regular season and conference tournament titles, come into Wednesday's game after playing a Monday night exhibition at NCAA Division I Utah. The 'Yotes took a 16-2 lead in that game before the Utes rallied for a 115-74 exhibition victory. Two of College of Idaho's best players are former NCAA Division I players. Junior forward Joey Nebeker, who played at Boise State University, averages 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Junior guard Aitor Zubiazarreta, who played at University of Portland, averages 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Other standouts for the 'Yotes are junior point guard Emanuel Morgan with 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game and senior guard Marck Coffin with 6.5 rebounds per game. College of Idaho ranks first among conference teams in steals per game, turnover margin (they give the ball away just 10.8 times per game) and also assist-to-turnover ratio, and it is second in assists per game.
 
RECENT RESULTS: College of Idaho has defeated Evergreen 10 straight times dating back to the 2009-10 season when the Geoducks swept the 'Yotes. Last season, College of Idaho defeated Evergreen by 100-67 and 103-88 scores.
 
ABOUT EASTERN OREGON: Thursday's clash between Evergreen and Eastern Oregon will feature arguably the top two newcomers in the league, at least if statistics are to be believed. For the Geoducks there is top scorer and rebounder Danny Powell, and for the Mountaineers there is junior guard Trell Washington. The 6-4 junior college transfer ranks fifth in conference scoring at 20.4 points per game, he is the circuit's top rebounder with 13.3 per contest, and he averages 4.1 assists per game for good measure. Other top players for EOU are 6-10 senior center Kalvin Johanson, the league's top shot blocker with 1.8 per game, senior guard Case Rada and his 16.8 points per game, and sophomore guard Tate de Laveaga and his 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. The latter is a NCAA Division I transfer from Northern Arizona University. The Mountaineers score 83.4 points and give up 79.5 points per game and they are outstanding at rebounding, grabbing 45.4 compared to 37.2 per game for their foes.
 
RECENT RESULTS: Eastern Oregon has won 12 straight games in the series, including 86-73 and 90-84 victories last season. Evergreen's most recent victory came in February 2009.
 
GEODUCKS FALL TO SOUTHERN OREGON AND OREGON TECH: In their most recent games the Geoducks dropped a pair of conference games prior to the Christmas break. On Dec. 19, Southern Oregon came into CRC Gymnasium and rallied from a halftime deficit to win, 91-79.  Danny Powell, saddled by foul trouble for portions of both halves, led all players with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Brock Otis added 20 points, Alex Hernandez chipped in 11 and Jarrick Mitchell led all players with seven assists. The following afternoon, Oregon Tech came from behind to take a 94-81 triumph. Powell led the Geoducks in scoring for the seventh time this season with 24 points and he added eight rebounds. Hernandez finished with 20 points and team highs of 10 rebounds and five assists, while Frankie Johnson ended the game with four three-pointers and 16 points.