Men's Basketball | 08/14/2018

SCHEDULE

MOSCOW, Idaho – The 2018-19 season is right around the corner for Idaho men's basketball, with the team releasing the schedule on Tuesday.  Competition opens officially on Nov. 9, and features six home games, bringing the season total to 16 matches in Moscow.
 
The first chance to get a look at the Vandals comes on Friday, Nov. 2, with LCSC coming to Memorial Gym for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.  The regular season gets underway the following Friday, with a trip to take on UC Irvine.  The Vandals return to Moscow for their home-opener the following Tuesday, Nov. 13, against Nicholls State.
 
"We are excited about what I believe is another very challenging non-conference schedule that begins with games against UC Irvine, who finished tied for second in the Big West last year, and Nicholls State," said head coach Don Verlin.  "Last year when we scheduled the series with Nicholls State we knew that they were going to be very good.  I hope our fans will be as excited as we are to host the defending Southland Conference Champions."
 
After an incredible experience last year, the Vandals are headed back to Boise in 2018-19, this time for the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase at CenturyLink Arena, Nov. 23-24.  Idaho opens the Showcase at home in Moscow, against Bethesda on Sunday, Nov. 18.  The Showcase will also feature UC Santa Barbara, Portland State and Northwest Nazarene.  Matchups for the Showcase games in Boise will be announced in early September.
 
The Vandals will close out play in the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at home against Walla Walla, before a trip out to former Big Sky foe North Dakota on Sat. Dec. 1.
 
The annual Battle of the Palouse comes on the road this year, on Wed., Dec. 5, in Pullman.  This year will be the 114^th consecutive season of the rivalry, the longest continuously running college basketball rivalry outside of the Ivy Leauge.  The Vandals have three of the last four in the series, including a 27-point thrashing in the Cowan Spectrum last season.
 
"For our fans, I am sure the highlights of the non-conference schedule are our game on Dec. 5 against the Cougs and the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, where we'll play UC Santa Barbara," Verlin said.  "Santa Barbara finished tied for second in the Big West last year with Irvine, and will feature a couple of really talented transfers from power conference programs."
 
Idaho's final two home games of the non-conference schedule take place on Sat., Dec. 8, against CSU Bakersfield and Sat., Dec. 15, against Nebraska-Omaha.  The Vandals close out non-conference play on the road, at Santa Clara, on Fri., Dec. 21.
 
Big Sky play begins on Sat., Dec. 29, at home against Idaho State.  For the rest of the Big Sky portion of the season, check the schedule link at the top of the page.  Ticket information will be coming soon.
 
"Due to the departure of North Dakota from the Big Sky, the conference schedule will be a little different this year," said Verlin.  "We start off with four games in eight days, and also have four games in eight days at the beginning of February.  We have three times where we play three games in the same week, and four times where we only play one game in a week.  From a practice schedule and practice routine perspective, and with the NCAA rule that requires one day off per week, this year will be much different and much more challenging than it has been in the past."
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho men's basketball by following the team on twitter, @VandalHoops.

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.