TOURNAMENT TIDBITS
Thursday's game is Idaho's first in a Big Sky Conference Tournament since 1995-96. In that post-season event, the Vandals first defeated Montana (72-67) before falling to Montana State (91-66). It is the second time Idaho and Eastern Washington have met in a Big Sky tournament game. Idaho won the 1989-90 title with a 65-62 victory over the Eagles.

The Vandals are 13-13 in Big Sky tournament games with four – 1980-81, 1981-82, 1988-89 and 1989-90, of those being championship game wins. In addition to their one game against Eastern Washington, Idaho has played two 2014-15 tournament teams in previous Big Sky tournaments. In previous tournaments, the Vandals are 5-4 against host and co-champion Montana and 2-1 against No. 8 seed Weber State.

ABOUT THE GAME
Thursday's game is the third this season between the Vandals and Eagles. Eastern Washington won both regular-season games but by the narrowest of margins – three points at Moscow in early January and three points in overtime at Cheney in late January. That overtime game was one of three this season for the Vandals.

The game matches the league's top two scoring offenses (EWU at 80.5; Idaho at 76.5) as well as two of the best 3-point shooting teams – Idaho at No. 1 at .408 and the Eagles at No. 3 at .400.

They're second (Idaho ) and third (EWU) in rebounding margin. The Eagles are led by Tyler Harvey at 22.9 points per game, with Connor Hill leading Idaho's balanced attack with 16.1. Harvey (4.0) and Hill (3.5) are the league's leaders in 3-point goals made per game, with Idaho's Mike Scott the top assist-to-turnover player in the league with EWU's Drew Brandon second.

ABOUT THE VANDALS
Connor Hill and Mike Scott are second-team all-conference choices after spending the season among the nation's best 3-point shooters (Hill) and assists leaders (Scott). Both have had impacts on the Idaho record books and Hill heads into the game as Division I's active career 3-point goals leader with his 334. He made six last Saturday at Idaho State to break Idaho's single-season record of 99 by totaling 102 with at least one game to play.

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 110-112 overall and has a 66.7 (66-33) 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.