MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men's basketball team returns home to host George Fox University on Friday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats provided here.
The Vandals are back in action after falling in an overtime affair to Long Beach State, 95-89, on Wednesday night. Idaho made 15 shots from behind the 3-point line, marking the most in a game since the Vandals made 17 against Western Michigan in December of 2017.
A handful of newcomers saw their first action in an Idaho uniform on Wednesday night and did not disappoint the home crowd. Junior Trevante Anderson dropped 26 points and eight assists - both career highs for the Tacoma, Wash. native. Mikey Dixon and Philip Pepple Jr. also added double digits to the box score as Dixon scored 16 points and Pepple Jr. filed 10 more.
SERIES HISTORY: Friday night's matchup against the Bruins will be the second all-time meeting between the two programs. Last time out, the Vandals earned a 101-62 victory over George Fox back in 2017.
NEWCOMERS: Idaho returns less than half of its scoring from last season, with the majority of the scoring coming from Gabe Quinnett, Tanner Christensen, and Ethan Kilgore.
Nine fresh faces will join the Vandals roster this season including six transfers and three freshmen. The six transfers are made up of three juniors and three seniors that will provide much-needed leadership and experience to a roster that lost seven upperclassmen.
PRESEASON ACTION: Idaho hosted two exhibition games during preseason action, defeating Evergreen State (73-56) and Yellowstone Christian (108-68).
Guards Mikey Dixon and Rashad Smith each reached double digits against Evergreen State College, with Dixon leading the way with 22 points. Big man Philip Pepple Jr. also notched a double-double on the night.
Freshman Yusef Salih carried the load on the offensive end against Yellowstone Christian, tallying 27 points. Ethan Kilgore, Trevante Anderson, Gabe Quinnett, and Philip Pepple each scored in double digits in the final exhibition of the preseason.
THE BATTLE: The Battle of the Palouse will continue its streak as the longest continuously running college basketball rivalry West of the Mississippi River, beginning in the 1905-06 season.
The 114th meeting between the two programs will be hosted at the new ICCU Arena on Nov. 18. The Cougs have earned victories in two straight years after defeating the Vandals, 58-61 last season. WSU leads the all-time series, 166-110.
NEW FACES: The Vandals welcome nine newcomers to the 2021-22 squad. Jack Hatten, Yusef Salih and RJ Walker are the three freshmen that join the roster this season.
Senior Mikey Dixon and junior Rashad Smith make their way to Moscow from Phoenix after spending last season at Grand Canyon University.
Trevante Anderson (San Francisco), Nolan Bertain (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) and Philip Pepple Jr. (SIUE) joined as transfers after spending last season on the Division 1 scene. Senior JeMeil King transferred to Idaho back in August after competing at Bellevue University the past two seasons.
DOUBLEHEADER: Idaho and Eastern Washington will continue to play a doubleheader format with the men and women this season. Both men and women will travel to Cheney on January 8 before the Vandals host the Eagles on Feb. 19.
FOLLOW: Fans can follow the Vandals all season long on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalHoops, and with the Voice of the Vandals, Chris King, at GoVandals.com/Listen.
WATCH: All home and conference contests can be watched live on ESPN+ and through the ESPN app.
SAAC FOOD DRIVE: Before the game today, Idaho SAAC will be sponsoring a food drive. Student-athletes will be at the east and west entrance of ICCU Arena collecting as many canned food items as possible. All cans collected will be donated to Palouse Cares.
TICKETS: Single-game and season tickets are available now. For more information, call the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466 or visit the ticketing page on GoVandals.com.
