MOSCOW, Idaho – The Vandals continue a four-game homestand when Montana and Eastern Washington make the trip to the Palouse. Idaho opens the week against the Grizzlies on Thursday, Feb. 17 (6 p.m.) before hosting the Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m.

How To Follow

Idaho vs. Eastern Washington // Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. 
Watch: SWX // ESPN+ 
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats 
Listen: KRPL 1400 AM // The Varsity Network 
Tickets: GoVandals.com
Theme: Alumni Night/Educator Appreciation Night

The Vandals enter the week ranked ninth in the Big Sky standings, ahead of Idaho State and Sacramento State after splitting a pair of home contests against the Bengals and Weber State. The Silver and Gold willed their way past Weber State, 83-79 to give Idaho their first win over the Wildcats since Feb. 24, 2018.

Idaho shot their best mark from the field against a Division 1 opponent at 58.5 percent and outrebounded WSU 37-25. The Vandals led for over 38 minutes and held a 20 point advantage at one point over the second-ranked team in the Big Sky. 

Backcourt duo Mikey Dixon and Trevante Anderson combined to score 57 points to lead the Vandals past the Wildcats. Dixon dropped a game-high 31 points on an efficient 10-of-12 from the field and 4 for 4 from behind the arc. The effort included a season-high 10 rebounds and four assists for Dixon. Dixon became the first Vandal player to score at least 30 points and record 10 rebounds in a game since Trevon Allen back on Feb. 13, 2020. 

Anderson tied a career-best with 26 points on 10-of-15 from the floor while dishing out six assists in the process. It's the second time this season the two guards have both each scored at least 20 points in a game - last time was in a win over Portland State when Dixon had 27 points and Anderson scored 20. 

Freshman forward Tanner Christensen provided a presence down low, filing his eighth double-figure performance with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
SCOUTING THE VANDALS: Idaho is 6-18 on the season and 3-11 in conference action. The Silver and Gold have been a more successful team at home versus on the road this season, holding a 5-6 record and winning two of its last three games at ICCU Arena. The team will look to end a five-game losing streak against Montana and get their first win over the Grizzlies since 2018.
 
On the season, the Vandals are averaging 73 points per game. The Vandals have scored at least 80 points on seven occasions this season and held opponents to 70 points or fewer four times. As a team, UI is shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from three which is the fourth best mark in the league. 
  
Senior Mikey Dixon is averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game on 45.1 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three, and 87.3 percent from the foul line. The New Castle, Del. native has the best free throw percentage in the conference and is ranked third in the nation with 137 makes at the line. Dixon has played his best basketball at home, averaging the second-best scoring mark amongst Big Sky players with 21.4 ppg in 11 games. Six of those games included 20 or more points by the senior guard.  

Backcourt teammate Trevante Anderson places second on the team in ppg with 13.8 ppg. Anderson saw his scoring mark go up after averaging 18.4 points over the last seven contests. His 3.5 assists a game is the highest on the team and ranks ninth in the Big Sky. 

Junior transfer Rashad Smith is scoring an average of 9.4 points and pulling down the second-most rebounds per game on the team with 5.4. The 6-4 combo guard has scored in double figures 12 times this year. Behind the 3-point line is where Smith has been on point, knocking down at least two shots from three in 10 games and shooting 41 percent from deep in 14 conference games. 

Three Vandals pull down at least four rebounds a game, including a team-high 6.3 from Tanner Christensen. Smith is second on the team with 5.4 rebounds while Anderson posts 4.7 per game. 

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES: Montana is 17-9 overall and 10-5 in conference play. UM has lost three of their last five games and holds a 4-8 record on the road. The Grizzlies most recently split a pair of home games against Northern Arizona (67-72 OT) and Portland State (85-76).
  
Montana ranks eighth in the Big Sky in scoring at 72.6 ppg while holding teams to a league-best 64.9 ppg on the defensive end. The Grizzlies have been the best in the conference at taking care of the ball and knocking down shots at the foul line, averaging 10.2 turnovers a game and hitting 80.7 percent from the charity stripe which is second-best in the nation.

Offensively, the Griz have six players that average at least 6 points per contest. Josh Bannon averages a team-best 14.3 points while Robby Beasley posts 12 a game and Brandon Whitney adds 11 points.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS MONTANA: UI owns a 110-93 all-time series record over Montana with the two programs first meeting in 1915-16. The Vandals hold the most wins over the Grizzlies versus any other opponent in Vandals history. The two teams last met up in Missoula, where Montana controlled most of the game and earned an 81-62 victory. 

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: EWU is 13-12 with a .500 mark in league play at 7-7. The Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak last week, picking up two home victories over Weber State (75-67) and Idaho State (75-72). Away from Cheney, Eastern Washington is 7-8 and lost four of their last five games on the road.
  
The Eagles are averaging 76.5 points a game and allowing 73.9 ppg. EWU has been best in the conference at defending at the three-point line and totaling assists, holding teams to 31.2 percent from three and averaging 16 assists per contest. They also rank second in rebounds a game (37.5) and free throw percentage (76.2).

Four Eagles average double figures on the season, including a team-high 16.7 ppg from Steele Venters. Forward Linton Acliese lll totals 15.2 ppg and pulls down a team-high seven boards. Seniors Rylan Bergersen averages 13.4 points while Angelo Allegri puts up 11.6 a game. 

SERIES HISTORY VS EASTERN WASHINGTON: Idaho holds a 58-36 overall record over the Eagles. This will be the second time the two teams face off this season, as Eastern Washington edged the Vandals, 96-93 back on Jan. 8 in Cheney.

NEXT UP: Idaho makes their last road trip of the regular season when they travel to face Sacramento State and Northern Colorado. The Vandals will go up against the Hornets on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. before playing the Bears on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.