Will tonight’s men’s college basketball battle between consistent rivals Temple College and Collin County propel the winner to the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference championship?

It certainly could, as Temple’s Leopards come into the teams’ NTJCAC opener at 7:30 p.m. today at TC Gym with a 13-2 record and Collin’s Express — the defending league champion — enters at 13-1.

“This is a huge game for us, more than if it was on the road,” Johnson said. “If we’re going to win the conference championship, we have to beat the good teams at home. We have to hold on our court.

“They (Collin) will be as good as any team we play. We expect it to come down to the end — and for us to make the last shot if we have it or for them to miss it if they have it.”

Although tonight’s winner will grab the early advantage in the title race, TC and Collin will play again Feb. 4 in Plano and 14-2 McLennan of Waco looms as a leading crown contender.

Therefore, as good a matchup as tonight’s TC-Collin tilt is, it’s only the beginning of a grueling, 14-game trek for both the Leopards and the Express.

As of two days ago this showdown shaped up as one of nationally ranked squads. TC began the week with the No. 19 position in the NJCAA Division I poll, the Leopards’ first top-20 berth in Johnson’s 17 seasons as their coach. And the Collin club of 16th-year coach Jim Sigona had the No. 12 slot.