MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho men's basketball gears up for the first test of the season, welcoming UC Davis to the ICCU Arena for a Monday, Nov. 10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. PST.

How to Follow
Idaho vs. UC Davis // Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+ 
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats 
Listen: The Varsity Network or GoVandals.com/Listen
Tickets: GoVandals.com/Tickets
Theme: Hometown Heroes
Program: Digital Program

Last Time Out
The Vandals delivered a 94-60 season-opening victory over Northwest on Monday, Nov. 4. Five Vandals scored in double figures, including a team-high 20 points from junior guard Isaiah Brickner. The transfer from Marist College took advantage of 14 minutes of action, shooting a perfect 7 for 7 clip and securing eight rebounds. 

Idaho natives Jack Payne and Kolton Mitchell also made an impact in their Vandal debut. Payne posted 14 points, five rebounds and four steals while Mitchell tallied 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Kristian Gonzalez and Titus Yearout pitched in 10 points each to round out the scoring. 

As a team, Idaho shot 51 percent from the field, forced 19 turnovers, corralled 44 rebounds and scored 55 bench points. 

Scouting the Aggies
UC Davis starts the season 0-1 after a 73-79 loss at Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Aggies led by five points (58-53) with under eight minutes remaining, but the Huskies responded with a strong run, finishing the game with a 26-15 stretch to secure the victory.
 
Standout guard TY Johnson erupted for 35 points on 10-of-25 from the field and 13 for 16 from the foul line. Leo DeBruhl and Isaiah Chappell also contributed, each tallying 10 points. 

Entering the season, Johnson was selected for the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 3.3 assists in the 2023-24 season, earning Second Team All-Big West honors. He was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in scoring, assists and steals. 

UC Davis finished the 2023-24 season with a 20-13 overall mark and a 14-6 record to earn a two-seed in the Big West Tournament. The Aggies advanced to the tournament championship before suffering a 70-74 loss to Long Beach State in the title game. 

Series History
The Vandals carry a 7-1 overall record and 4-0 at home against Davis. The Aggies earned their lone victory over Idaho with a 65-64 win at the Red Wolves Classic in Jonesboro, Ark. on Nov. 14, 2019.

Notables
Second-year head coach Alex Pribble returns 10 players from last season, including a Big Sky All-Defensive Team member in Julius Mims and two starters that combined to start in 58 games. After returning only three percent of the team's scoring a season ago, Pribble and his staff retained 52 percent of the program's offensive output to couple with five impact transfers and one freshman. 

Idaho posted an 11-21 overall record and a 5-13 conference mark in 2023-24. The Vandals delivered key victories over Big Sky Tournament Champion Montana State, Idaho State, and a regular season sweep over Sacramento State. The Silver and Gold finished off the season ninth in the Big Sky. 

Senior forward Julius Mims begins his second season in Moscow after averaging 11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in 2023-24. Mims formed into one of the most efficient scorers and premiere shot blockers in the conference, leading the league with a 63 percent field goal percentage (150-237) and the second most blocks (48). The Billings, Montana native recorded double figures in 18 games and five double-doubles in his junior campaign. Mims was one of six players in the Big Sky selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Another vital returning piece in the front court is senior big man, Kyson Rose. The Kennewick, Wash. native started in 26 games and averaged 6.6 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three. Rose scored 10 more points in eight games for the Vandals. 

Junior Tyler Linhardt was a key contributor in his first season at Idaho, providing an offensive spark with nine double-figure scoring efforts in 23 games. Linhardt looks to take a big step in his second season in Moscow after averaging 8.2 points per game on 45 percent from the field and 32 percent from three. 

Speaking of taking a step, Idaho will lean on second-year guard Kristian Gonzalez to continue his progression after a promising true freshman season. The Chula Vista, California native scored 124 points, knocked down 15 3-pointers and played hero in a 55-53 win against Idaho State, scoring 11 points, including seven of the team's final 12 points.

Redshirt sophomore guard Tyler Mrus returns to the fold after suffering a season-ending injury against Cal State Northridge on Nov. 9. The Bothell, Wash. native received a medical redshirt and looks to bolster a backcourt that proves to be one of the deepest in the last seven years.

Idaho reloaded in the transfer portal at the guard position, adding a quartet of talent in Jojo Anderson (Whitworth), Isaiah Brickner (Marist College), Kolton Mitchell (Idaho State) and Jack Payne (Colorado State).
The Vandals also added a local product and transfer from Oregon State, Jayden Stevens. 

The freshmen class includes a single newcomer, Ewan Steele, who is from Ontario, Canada.

Other returners include Trevon Blassingame (Jr., Auburn, Wash.), Takai Hardy (So., Fairfield, Calif.), Titus Yearout (R-So., Lapwai, Idaho), Jack Hatten (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif.) and Miles Klapper (R-Fr., Hillsborough, Calif.).
Coach Pribble brought aboard three new members to his staff in 2024-25 with the additions of assistant coach Markhuri Sanders-Frison and graduate assistants Luke Chavez and Mark Moore.

The non-conference stretch for Idaho features 13 contests, including five games at the ICCU Arena, four in California, two against NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago, one Big Sky-Summit League Challenge matchup and a trip to Corvallis, Oregon. 

The Vandals play in 18 conference games in a double round-robin format, taking on every Big Sky opponent at home and on the road. Idaho starts the new year with its conference opener against defending conference champion Montana State on Thursday, January 2. 

Up Next
Idaho will play its third game in seven days when they travel to face Washington State on Monday, Nov. 11. Tip-off is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. PST inside Beasley Coliseum. 

Tickets
Single-game and season tickets are available now. For more information, call the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466 or visit GoVandals.com/tickets. 

Follow
Fans can follow the Vandals all season long on X, Facebook and Instagram, @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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