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BOISE, Idaho – The University of Idaho is bringing Vandal basketball back to the Treasure Valley, with both the men and the women playing a doubleheader at CenturyLink Arena on December 21.
 
The women will get things started at 5 p.m. against Eastern Oregon, while the men will follow at approximately 7:30 against Big West power UC Irvine.  Tickets have yet to go on sale, but will be available at GoVandals.com/tickets in the coming weeks.
 
"It's very important that we maintain an athletic presence in Boise," said director of athletics Rob Spear.  "With a strong alumni base of over 37,000 in the Treasure Valley it has always been important to engage the community of Vandals."
 
"Well I think it's really important to play a game in the Treasure Valley, where our biggest alumni group is at," said head men's basketball coach Don Verlin.  "We're excited to go down there and play on December 21."
 
"We are excited to get to play a home game so to speak down in Boise," said head women's basketball coach Jon Newlee. "It will help us playing on a neutral floor as we go to the conference tournament in Reno in the long term. In the short term, it is great to be in front of our Vandal fan base in Boise. It is hard for them to get all the way up here during the winter time to watch us play at home. For us to be able to go down there and show them what the Vandal women's program is all about is a fantastic opportunity."
 
The Vandal women take on Eastern Oregon in the front half of the doubleheader. The Vandals last played in Boise on Feb. 2, 2011. Idaho defeated then Western Athletic Conference rival Boise State, 61-46. The Idaho women are 2-1 in Boise under Newlee. The Broncos left the WAC after the 2011 season, ending the bi-yearly matchup. Idaho scored a 72-55 win over Eastern Oregon in the team's last meeting back in 2010.
 
The men will face UC Irvine, the defending Big West Regular Season Champions.  Idaho hasn't played in Boise since falling to BSU, 86-75, on November 25, 2014.  Verlin has been successful in the Treasure Valley, going 5-4 in Boise as head coach of the Vandals.  The men haven't faced UC Irvine since Verlin's first season at the help, when the Vandals toppled the Anteaters, 101-47.  However, this Irvine team has improved dramatically, making an appearance in the National Invitational Tournament a season ago, and should provide an exceptional night of basketball for Vandal fans.
 
"We're really happy to have UC Irvine coming, like you said a really good opponent, one of the best teams in the Big West Conference.  A team that's been very, very good over the last four or five years.  I think it's a quality opponent for our fans to watch us play."
 
The women plan to release their schedule on Friday, while the men are still working to secure the final game before releasing next week.  Stay in touch with GoVandals.com to find out more as the schedules are released.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho men's basketball by following the team on twitter, @VandalHoops. Also keep up to date with the women's team @VandalsWBB on Twitter and Instagram. 

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.