Northwest Nazarene hosts College of Idaho on Tuesday in the first game of the 2026 United Heritage Mayors’ Cup, renewing Idaho’s oldest collegiate basketball rivalry. NNU is coming off an exhibition win, while the Yotes bring a three-game winning streak into the Nampa matchup.

By the Numbers
  • NNU beat Walla Walla 85-54, led by Nick Corbett’s 19 points and 11 rebounds.
  • College of Idaho is 3-1, with three straight wins.
  • The teams split last season’s meetings: College of Idaho won 75-64; NNU answered with a 91-74 victory.
  • The rivalry dates to the 1933-34 season.
Yes, But

NNU has the home-court edge, winning two of the last three meetings in Nampa, but College of Idaho leads the all-time series. Both teams enter with strong recent credentials: NNU has made consecutive NCAA West Regional appearances, while the Yotes reached the NAIA National Tournament last season.

State of Play
  • Tipoff is Tuesday at 7 p.m. at NNU’s Johnson Sports Center; KTVB will televise the game.
  • The teams meet again Nov. 17 in Caldwell for the second Mayors’ Cup game.
What’s Next

After Tuesday’s game, NNU travels to San Francisco for matchups with Fresno Pacific on Nov. 13 and San Francisco State on Nov. 14, then returns home for its Nov. 20-21 tournament.

Bottom Line

The Mayors’ Cup opens with two proven regional contenders and a rivalry that has been close in recent seasons—making the first matchup a meaningful early test for both teams.