Note: The Chicago Boyz, from season eight of America's Got Talent, will be performing at halftime as well as a 45-minute post-game show. The event is sponsored by ASUI Vandal Entertainment.
ABOUT THE GAME
Thursday's game is a pivotal one in the battle for the eight-team post-season Big Sky Tournament. The Vandals are eighth heading into the game with their 4-6 league mark, while the Vikings are tied for sixth at 5-6. Portland State won the January meeting against the Vandals, 85-73. In that game at the Stott Center, Idaho made just 55.6 percent from the free throw line (10 of 18) and allowed four Portland State players to reach double-figure scoring.
DeShaun Wiggins, who along with Brandon Tucker had 19 points in the last game between the Vikings and Vandals, is Portland State's leading scorer with an average of 15.3 points per game. Wiggins has scored 30.7 percent of his points from the free throw line with the second-best total in the conference with 99 free throws made in 21 games. Tucker averages 12.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in support of team rebounding leader Tiegbe Bamba's 6.1. Collin Spickerman makes his presence known inside in the form of the Big Sky's second-best blocked shots per game average - 1.86.
Idaho has the Big Sky's second-most prolific offense at 77.1 points per game with Portland State fourth at 72.0 points per game.
ABOUT THE VANDALS
Connor Hill, Idaho's all-time 3-point goal leader and one of the best in the nation, has helped the Vandals shoot the Big Sky's best 3-point percentage (.423), which is the second-best average in the nation. Hill averages 15.5 points per game, which includes his per-game average of 3.4 3-pointers per game – second in the Big Sky and fifth in the NCAA.
Hill's backcourt mate Mike Scott leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio with the nation's second-best number at 3.93. He also is the league leader in assists per game (5.6) and total assists (118), while maintaining the second-best scoring average of 14.3. He led Idaho in scoring with 15 points against Portland State in their last meeting.
Idaho's inside game has been fueled by senior Bira Seck, who, like Hill, started every game the past two seasons. They're at 55 and counting. Seck averages 7.3 rebounds per game – third in the Big Sky. He's fourth in defensive rebounds per game at 5.1 as well as in double doubles accumulated this season with four.
Sekou Wiggs is the third Vandal with a double-figure scoring average at 12.3.
HEAD COACH DON VERLIN
Verlin is in his seventh season with the Vandals after 15 seasons as an assistant at Utah State University. He is 106-107 overall and has a 65.3 (62-33) winning percentage at home. With the Vandals' victory over Walla Walla University, he became the all-time winningest coach at Idaho. He surpassed Charles Finley (1947-54) and David MacMillan (1920-27) – both with 101.
TAKING TO THE SKY
Idaho returns to the Big Sky Conference, where it was a founding member in 1963. The Vandals staying in the Big Sky was from 1963-1996. They were in the Big West from 1996-2005, and the Western Athletic from 2005-2014.
