FINAL SCORE
Idaho Vandals - 68
Sam Houston Bearkats - 94

SEASON RECORDS
Idaho - 4-3
Sam Houston - 5-2

VANDAL LEADERS
PTS - Jack Payne (14)
AST- Biko Johnson (5)
REB- Brody Rowbury (5)
BLK- Jack Payne (1)
STL- Jack Payne (1)

NOTABLES

• Idaho's first game this season where they lost the rebounding battle, 24-36.
• With 10 made threes in tonight's contest, the Vandals' top-ten streak of 5+ reached 53 games.
• Isaiah Brickner was perfect from everywhere on the floor, going 3-3 overall and 1-1 from the arc, as well as 4-4 from the free throw line.
• 28 points is the second-fewest scored in a half by Idaho this season (27 vs. San Diego)
  • Conversely, 57 points scored by Sam Houston in the second half is the most the Vandals have allowed this year.

BOISE, Idaho - Idaho fell to Sam Houston Wednesday, 68-94, in a battle between the two 1-0 teams at the ICCU Holiday Hoops Classic. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The first half was tight, with the two sides exchanging buckets. Brody Rowbury and Miles Klapper drove the Vandal attack early, with each having five of Idaho's first 20 points. 

Boise native Jack Payne had a hot hand in the opening 20 minutes, leading the Vandals with 12 points on 4-7 shooting. A Payne three with just under two minutes remaining in the half, his fourth of the period, gave Idaho an eight point edge, before the Bearkats scored five straight just before the break. UI headed into the locker room up three, 40-37, converting 50% of their shots, and outrebounding Sam Houston 17-13. 

jp can't stop making threes in the city of trees pic.twitter.com/L8YIvVjRMz

— Idaho Basketball (@VandalHoops) November 29, 2025

Both sides traded punches in the opening moments of the second, before the Bearkats wrestled the lead away at the 16:58 mark. Kolton Michell would convert a triple to take the lead back with under 15 to go, but from that point on Sam Houston turned on the jets, finishing the game on a 45-20 run. Idaho had opportunities to trim the lead, but could not slow the Bearkat attack, surrendering a season high 57 points in the half and struggling to find any momentum.

UP NEXT
Idaho returns to ICCU Arena Wednesday for its first of two games in the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge against North Dakota. The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. PT, and will air on ESPN+ and the Vandal Radio Network.

TICKETS
Idaho Athletics announced that all student tickets for football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer home events are free of charge. To claim your tickets, visit govandals.com/tickets 

FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Vandal Hoops, follow the team on Instagram, X, and visit govandals.com