MOSCOW – The Idaho men's basketball team will look to get back on track following a 59-58 loss to Cal State Bakersfield in their previous matchup when they host SAGU American Indian College on Saturday afternoon at ICCU Arena. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
FOLLOW: The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ while fans can also listen over the airwaves with the Voice of the Vandals, Chris King, at GoVandals.com/Listen.

TICKETS: The Vandals will offer a 'Golden Ticket' promotion for Saturday's game, allowing kids ages 12 and under in for free admittance when accompanied by an adult. The ticket must be redeemed at the ticket booth located on the west end of ICCU Arena to gain entry. Parents can purchase a general admission ticket for $9 with the Golden Ticket. Fans can print the ticket here.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Vandals (2-8, 0-1) battled from down 11 points against Cal State Bakersfield to tie the game at 58 all but a late foul call with half a second remaining decided the game at the free-throw line, as the Roadrunners earned a 59-58 victory. Idaho shot 47.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the second half to help give the Vandals a chance at the end. 

Junior Rashad Smith scored in double figures for the fourth time this season, tying his career-high with 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the three-point line to lead the Vandal scoring attack. Smith opened the second half with 11 straight points, including three buckets coming from behind the arc. Mikey Dixon added 13 points on the night while Philip Pepple Jr. did a little bit of everything off the bench with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.  
  
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS: SAGU American Indian College enters Saturday's contest 0-5 to begin the season. 

The Warriors most recently fell to Montana on Monday, 118-49. Ryan Davis was the lone double-digit scorer for SAGU AIC, tallying 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three. 

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's matchup with the Warriors will be the first time the two programs have met.

SUCCESS FROM THREE

• On the season, Idaho tops the Big Sky rankings in team three-point percentage (37.6). The Vandals have shot 43 percent or better in four games so far, including a season-high 54 percent (13/24) against South Dakota State.

PROTECTING THE PAINT

• Junior big man Philip Pepple Jr. has been a bright spot for the Vandal defense, leading the conference with 17 blocked shots. 
• The Shoreline, Wash. native has three or more blocks in three games so far while most recently posting two rejections off the bench against Cal State Bakersfield. He averages 1.7 blocks per game.

MONEY MIKE

• Grand Canyon transfer Mikey Dixon has been one of Idaho's most consistent performers on the offensive end, scoring in double figures nine out of 10 games this season.  
• His 35 points against South Dakota State (SDSU) was a new season-high in terms of single-game scoring in the Big Sky Conference. 
• The New Castle, Del. native is leading the team in points per game (16.3) and free throw percentage (.859). In the conference, Dixon ranks fifth in total points (163), sixth in ppg, and seventh in free throw percentage.
• Dixon's 16/16 performance from the line against SDSU ties him for 5th most FT's made without a miss in a single game in conference history. The perfect mark also ties him for the most free throws made in a single game in school history - Ed Haskings made 16 at Oregon State (1964).
• The perfect mark placed him atop the list in program history for free throw percentage in a single game, passing Kashif Watson who went 15-15 against Cal State Northridge (2009).

GETTING TO THE LINE 

• The Vandals rank No. 23 in the nation in FT attempts (235) and No. 26 in free throw makes (170).
• Mikey Dixon leads the pack when it comes to scoring from the line, placing first in the conference and sixth nationally in free throws made (55). 

SALIH FOR THREE

• True freshman Yusef Salih has found success from three to start his collegiate career, going 13 for 27 (48.1) and hitting three shots from behind the arc in three different games this season. 
• The Gainesville, Virginia native went a perfect 3 for 3 against Fresno State and Cal State Bakersfield which is tied for the best single-game three-point percentage marks in the Big Sky Conference.  
• In just 10 games, Salih's 13 threes have moved him up to No. 13 on Idaho's all-time freshman records list for most three-pointers in a season. Cameron Tyson is first with 106.  

FLOOR GENERAL

• Trevante Anderson has been an all-around performer for the Vandals since the start of the season, recording seven double-figure performances in 10 games, four games with 5 or more rebounds, and five games with 6 or more assists.  
• Anderson, a transfer from San Francisco, has increased his scoring average by 12 points from last season (1.3 ppg).  
• Anderson leads the team in assists per game (4.2). His assist total has him rated third-best in the conference. 
• The junior guard added his third 20-plus point game against NDSU, tallying a team-high 21 points. He also led the team with nine rebounds and six assists. It was the most rebounds recorded by Anderson in his career.
• Anderson opened the season with back-to-back 20+ point outings, scoring a career-high 26 against Long Beach State and 22 in a win over George Fox. 

CAREER HIGHS

• Mikey Dixon eclipsed his previous career-high of 29 points set as a freshman at Quinnipiac (2017) when he dropped 35 in a win over SDSU. He also posted a new career-best in assists with eight.
• Junior Rashad Smith shot 7-of-10 from the field and 2 for 5 from three to record a new personal best 16 points against SDSU.  
• Tanner Christensen made the most of his time on the floor against SDSU, scoring a career-best 14 points in just 18 minutes of action.
• Trevante Anderson set new career marks in the opening game of the 2021-22 season versus Long Beach State, scoring 26 points and dishing out eight assists. The junior guard also pulled down a career-best nine rebounds against North Dakota State. 
• In a matchup against Cal Poly, Philip Pepple Jr. recorded a personal best four blocks.