MOSCOW, Idaho – After a three-week-long road trip, the Idaho men's basketball team finally makes its return back home with a pair of conference matchups against Weber State and Idaho State. The Vandals open the week against the Wildcats on Thursday, Feb. 15 (6 p.m. PST) for the second time around before going up against in-state rival Idaho State on Saturday, Feb. 17 (2 p.m. PST).

Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Trevor Williams (Play-by-play) and Stephen Madison (Analyst) on the call. Fans can listen in live to the Voice of the Vandals, Chris King at GoVandals.com, the Varsity Network app or locally on 1400 AM in Moscow. 



How to Follow 
Idaho vs. Weber State // Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. PST
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Listen: The Varsity Network or GoVandals.com/Listen
Tickets: GoVandals.com/Tickets
Theme: Back to the Movies 

Idaho vs. Idaho State // Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. PST
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Listen: The Varsity Network or GoVandals.com/Listen
Tickets: GoVandals.com/Tickets
Theme: Blackout 

Last Time Out
Idaho fell in a nailbiter to conference-leading Eastern Washington on the road last Saturday, 79-87. The Vandals cut it to a two-point game with just over one minute to go after EJ Neal knocked down a corner three but the Eagles were able to hit a crucial three and finish the job at the foul line to earn the victory.  

Despite the eight-point loss, UI stood out in multiple facets of the game. The Vandals assisted on 20 of their 29 made field goals, shot 49.2 percent from the field, scored 12 points off turnovers and posted 10 second-chance points.  

Fans saw eight lead changes and five ties throughout the competition. At one point it looked as if second-half woes were going to doom Idaho once again after falling down by 12 points midway through the second, but the Vandals chipped away and were within one late. 

Four Vandals added double-figure scoring performances on the day, including a team-high 20 points from Neal. The guard shot 7-of-13 from the field and posted two steals and one block. Quinn Denker added 19 points and six assists while D'Angelo Minnis posted 17 points. Kyson Rose was another key contributor adding a season-high 15 points and six boards. 

Vandal Notables

• EJ Neal played his best game as a Vandal at EWU, posting a new Division 1 career-high 20 points. Over the last two games, Neal is averaging 17.5 ppg on 60 percent shooting off the bench. 
• The Vandals were successful from the foul line last week, sinking 22 of their 24 free throws in two games, including a perfect 12-12 at Sac State. This was the first time a Vandal team had gone perfect (Min. 10 FTM) from the charity stripe since the 2020-21 season (vs. Montana State, 15-15).
• Idaho's 20 assists at Eastern Washington was the first time recording 20 or more assists in a single game against a D-1 opponent since 2019 at Arkansas State (21).
• Julius Mims ranks first in the Big Sky in blocks (38) and blocks per game (1.58), fourth in double-doubles (5) and rebounds per game (7.3) and fifth in defensive rebounds (5.25) and offensive rebounds (2.04).
• Idaho ranks third in the Big Sky in bench points, scoring 23.42 per game. The Vandal second unit scored the most points in a conference game this season with 30 against Sacramento State. 
• Over three games against Montana, Montana State and Sacramento State, UI shot 50 percent or better in each game. This marked the first time a Vandal team has made at least half their shots in three consecutive conference road games since at least the 2004-05 season.
• Idaho held Sacramento State to 45 points, which is the fewest allowed against a Division 1 opponent since 2015-2016 (Southern Utah, 44 points). 
• Idaho's 81-75 road win over Montana State was the first time the Vandals won in Bozeman since February 5, 2015.
• Mims tied a season-high with 14 rebounds against Montana State. He also posted 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting for his fifth double-double of the season. 
• The Billings native has been a force protecting the rim, posting two or more blocks in 12 games and at least three blocks in six games. His 38 total blocks are just four away from entering the top 10 in Idaho history for most single-season blocks. 
• Guard Quinn Denker leads the Vandals in scoring in conference play, averaging 13.9 points per game. At Montana last week, Denker posted 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting to notch his third game of 20 or more points. 
• Not only is Denker an effective scorer, but he's also been Idaho's best passer. He has dished out 84 assists, which is tied for eighth in the Big Sky and tied for seventh in assists per game average at 3.5.
• Terren Frank has scored in double figures in three of the last six games.
• Forward Kyson Rose has scored in double figures in three straight games, including a Division 1 career-high 15 points against Eastern Washington. The Kennewick, Wash. native is shooting 68 percent (15-22) from the field over his last three games.

Scouting the Wildcats

• Weber State has picked up four straight conference wins surging to fourth place in the Big Sky at 7-5 in league play and 16-9 overall. 
• Junior forward Dillon Jones has earned six Big Sky Player of the Week honors in 2023-24. Jones posted game-highs of 20 and 21 points in two games last week. He scores a team-best 19.8 points per game, which ranks second most in the conference.
• Jones leads the league in five statistical categories, including the third most defensive rebounds in the nation at 8.96.
• The Wildcats have sunk the most free throws in the Big Sky at 388 on a 75% clip while holding opponents to a league-lowest 367 attempts from the charity stripe.
• Weber State's defense allows just 64.9 points per game, the best in the conference.
• Four Wildcats score at least 10 points per game.

Series History vs. Weber State

• The Vandals are 25-64 all-time against the Wildcats.
• Their first meeting came in 1964 in an 83-103 loss at Weber State.
• Idaho is 1-9 in their last ten meetings with the Wildcats. The Vandals' lone win was in 2021-22 at ICCU Arena, 83-79.

Scouting the Bengals

• Idaho State enters the week with a three-game win streak while winning four of their last five. 
• The Bengals are 6-6 in Big Sky action, standing at fifth and 11-14 overall.
• Idaho State held Sacramento State to just 40 points last Thursday, the lowest in Big Sky action this year. 
• Sophomore guard Maleek Arington leads the Bengals in nine statistical categories. Arington dishes the league's most assists with 121.
• Center Brayden Parker scores a team-best 14.4 points per game, the seventh-most in the league.

Series History vs. Idaho State

• Idaho is 65-54 against the Bengals.
• The Vandals won the first meeting versus their longtime in-state rival at Idaho State on December 28th, 1932 in a 40-25 win.
• Idaho is 1-9 in their last 10 meetings with Idaho State. 
• The Vandals' last win came in the 2019-20 regular season finale, beating the Bengals 80-76 at Cowan Spectrum. 

Up Next
Idaho heads out on the road next week for matchups at Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Vandals start the week against the Bears on Feb. 22 before facing the Lumberjacks on Feb. 24. 

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