College hoops: Utah Valley at Northern Illinois

Utah Valley (6-7) at Northern Illinois (3-7)

When: 1 p.m. Friday at Convocation Center

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM

The skinny: Both teams rank around 270th nationally according to Pomeroy and Sagarin and like to play uptempo ball, so that should provide some fast-paced New Year's Eve intrigue in DeKalb. Opponents have decided they're not going to let Xavier Silas beat them. In the losses to SIU and Missouri, Silas had to force things for anything to happen. Alas, he shot 5 of 31 from the field for 19 points and committed 10 turnovers. The Wolverines have just 3 wins over Div. I teams, but one came Dec. 1 at Oregon State. Farragut High School alum Isiah Williams leads Utah Valley with 16.7 ppg.