MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men's basketball team (2-3) travels to San Diego for a multi-team event. The Vandals face off against Southern Utah (4-1) on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. PST before closing play against host San Diego (1-3) on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. PST Jenny Craig Pavilion.

How to Follow
Idaho vs. Southern Utah // Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. PST 
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Listen: The Varsity Network or GoVandals.com/Listen

Idaho vs. San Diego // Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. PST 
Watch: ESPN+   
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Listen: The Varsity Network or GoVandals.com/Listen

Last Time Out
On Tuesday night, the Vandals earned a 101-58 victory at home over Evergreen State. The Vandals were led by Julius Mims and Tyler Mrus, each having 21 points. Jack Payne grabbed 10 rebounds and a block. Jojo Anderson had a season-high eight assists.

Idaho shot over 50 percent from the field for the third time this season, while having a season-best defensive outing, holding the Geoducks to 58 points, 39.2 percent shooting, and forcing 19 turnovers. 

Scouting the Thunderbirds
Southern Utah enters the weekend with a 4-1 record after recording their first loss of the season to Loyola Chicago, 76-72. The Thunderbirds' 4-0 start to the season set a new school record.

The Thunderbirds finished the 2023-24 season 10-21 overall and 5-15 in the WAC. SUU brought in eleven players over the offseason, pulling four out of the transfer portal. 

Forward Jamir Simpson ranks third in the WAC in points per game, averaging 17.7 while shooting 48.3 percent from the field. Senior Jamari Sibley has two double-doubles in the early goings of the season, most recently in a six-point win over Omaha. 
As a team, Southern Utah ranks in the top 20 in the nation in several categories, including seventh in fastbreak points (22.80), 16th in free throws made per game (21), and 13th in defensive rebounds a game (32.20). 

Series History vs. Southern Utah
As a former member of the Big Sky Conference, the Thunderbirds and Vandals have faced off on 31 occasions, with SUU holding a 19-11 edge.   

Idaho last met the Thunderbirds in a conference matchup in 2022, losing 59-75. The Vandals are looking to break a 10-game losing streak, having not beaten Southern Utah since 2018.

Scouting the Toreros
San Diego (1-3) comes off a 12-point loss at home to Idaho State (66-78), shooting a season-low 36.7 percent. 

The Toreros went 18-15 overall and 7-9 in the West Coast Conference a year ago. San Diego brings a revamped roster into the 2024-25 season, with nine newcomers, including six freshmen. 

San Diego tied for eighth in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, returning center Steven Jamerson II, who averaged 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game in 2023-24. The senior has been just below last year's marks through the first four games, averaging 8 points and 6.75 boards. 

Junior guard Kjay Bradley Jr. leads USD in scoring, averaging 17.8 a game, four assists and 2.75 steals, good enough for 31st in the nation. Forward Santiago Trouet pulls down nine rebounds a game and scores 8.5 points a game, with a double-double in the Toreros' lone victory of the season against Boston U on Nov. 8. 

Series History vs. San Diego
The Vandals hold a 3-1 record over the Toreros. The two teams have not seen each other since the 1984-85 season, when Idaho emerged victorious, 75-63.

Notables
After five games, Julius Mims leads the team with an average of 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He also shoots a team-best 57.8 field goal percentage - a mark that ranks fifth best in the Big Sky.

Tyler Mrus has been Idaho's best 3-point shooter so far in the young season, accounting for 16 made threes on a 44.4 percent clip. Both marks rank second and third in the Big Sky, respectively. He posts an average of 12.8 points per game and has recorded three double-digit games.

Whitworth transfer guard Jojo Anderson currently leads the nation with an assist/turnover ratio of 16 through five games. He has accounted for 16 assists and just one turnover.

Idaho has been one of the best teams in the Big Sky at scoring off the bench, drawing fouls and delivering from behind the arc. The Vandals attempt a conference-leading 22.2 free throws per game while ranking second in bench points (32.6) and three-point percentage (38.3).

Up Next 
The Vandals return home next week to host UC Riverside on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m PST. 

Follow
Fans can follow the Vandals all season long on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @VandalHoops, and with the Voice of the Vandals, Dennis Patchin, at GoVandals.com/Listen. All home and conference contests will be streamed live through ESPN+.

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