POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — Two Big Sky Conference men’s basketball teams looking to halt slides will meet Thursday when the Idaho State Bengals host the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Holt Arena. Idaho State (10-13, 3-7 Big Sky) has lost five consecutive games, most recently an 88-65 defeat at Portland State on Monday. Northern Arizona (8-15, 3-7) has dropped three of its last four, including a 79-62 home loss to Idaho on Jan. 31. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Jan. 10 thriller in Flagstaff, where the Bengals edged the Lumberjacks 81-79. Idaho State’s Evan Otten had a key block in the final minute to help secure that road victory. Otten, a defensive presence for the Bengals, is averaging 9.3 points and 2.3 blocks over his last three games. He posted 12 points and four blocks in the loss at Portland State. Northern Arizona will lean on guard Karl Poom, who torched Idaho State for 22 points in the first meeting. Poom has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in seven of his last eight games. He is averaging 15.1 points per game in that stretch. Both teams have struggled for consistency in conference play, making this a pivotal game for seeding in the upcoming Big Sky tournament. The Lumberjacks have found wins hard to come by on the road, going 1-9 away from home this season. Idaho State is 7-4 at Holt Arena. Following this game, Northern Arizona travels to face Weber State on Saturday. Idaho State remains home to host Northern Colorado on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST Thursday.