Idaho (1-0, 0-0) vs. Whitman (0-0, 0-0)
MOSCOW, Idaho – The Vandals return home to ICCU Arena for the first of a 13-game home slate this season. Idaho is coming off a season-opening 83-81 win over rival Washington State, its first since 2017, and first in Pullman since 2014. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+, with Voice of the Vandals Dennis Patchin on site for the Idaho Vandal Radio Network.
Idaho and the Whitman Blues have played 105 times prior to Friday's meeting in Moscow. The two sides were both original members of the Northwest Conference in 1908, meeting multiple times each year during Idaho's 19-year stay in the NWC. Whitman was the first opponent to face the Vandals in Memorial Gym in December 1928. After their nearly 20-year span as conference mates in the early 1900s, the two teams have met sparingly, with their last matchup during the 1992-93 season, where Idaho won 80-53.
Monday's victory in Pullman was historic for the Vandals. It was the program's first win against the Cougs since 2017, and their first at Beasley Coliseum in 11 years. Additionally, Idaho became the first ever team to beat Washington State in their home opener in the building, as WSU had won 35 straight season openers at the 12,000-seat arena.
The Black and Gold did it in a new way, at least under Alex Pribble; by winning the rebounding battle and scoring more in the paint. Idaho beat WSU on the boards, 35-32, something they had only done in 28 of the previous 65 games of the Pribble era. This led to an eight-point edge in the paint, powered by the Vandals' frontcourt additions of Brody Rowbury, Jackson Rasmussen, and Seth Joba, all of whom scored in double-figures, with Rowbury and Joba getting five or more rebounds in their Idaho debuts.
Idaho shared the ball well, having six scorers post 10 or more for the first time since a win over Northwest Indian College (12/16/22). Kristian Gonzalez scored 18 off the bench, the most he has scored in under 20 minutes of game time in his career. The Chula Vista, CA native was hyper-efficient, going 6-8 from the field and 3-4 beyond the arc, providing a spark for the Vandal offense.
IDAHO NOTES
- Idaho features five players on the roster who hail from the Gem State for the first time since the 1971-72 season
- At 6'11", Rowbury is set to be the tallest Idaho Vandal since Jack Wilson stepped on the court in 2020, standing at 7'0".
- Kristian Gonzalez's 2024-25 average of 11.4 points per game places him fifth among returning scorers in the Big Sky.
- Idaho's February 19, 2026 game at Portland State was selected to air on ESPNU as part of the Big Sky's distribution deal with the Worldwide Leader in Sports. This will mark the first time the Vandal men have had a regular season game appear on a linear ESPN since the 2010-11 season.
- Idaho's six scorers in double-figures Monday were the most since a win over Northwest Indian College in 2022
NUMBERS TO KNOW
- 120: The 2025-26 season marks the 120th year of Idaho men's basketball. In the first 119 seasons, the Vandals won five conference titles, made four NCAA tournament appearances, and had five All-American players
- 100: All season long, Idaho Basketball is remembering the life and legacy of the legendary Vandal, Don Monson. Monson was a three-time basketball letterman as a student, but his biggest honor was as head basketball coach from 1978 to 1983, where he led the Vandals to a Sweet Sixteen appearance and earned 100 wins over five seasons
- 5: Five Idaho natives are on this season's roster, the most since the 1971-72 season
- 47: Idaho has made five or more threes in 47 straight contests, tied for the 10th-longest streak in the nation
- 4: Idaho's preseason ranking in both Big Sky Preseason Polls, their highest since 2017
- 62.7: The Vandals return the most minutes in the Big Sky, with three out of their five most common starters staying in Moscow for the 2025-26 season
- 14: Head Coach Alex Pribble led Idaho to 14 regular-season wins last year, the most since the 2017-18 season.
- 2: Two of Idaho's regular-season games are set to take place in Boise this season, the first time the Vandals will play a regular contest in the state capital since the fall of 2018
- 308: The 2024-25 Vandals relied heavily on play from beyond the arc, setting a new school record for made triples at 308.
- 2014: Idaho is coming off its first win at Washington State since 2014.
UP NEXT
The Vandals head to Southern California for some sun and a couple of games, one against San Diego on November 12 and UC San Diego on Saturday, November 15. Both games will be available on ESPN+ and the Vandal Radio Network.
TICKETS
Tickets are available for Idaho's Holiday Hoops Classic on November 26 and 28. Watch the Vandals and Idaho State take on CSUN and Sam Houston State in downtown Boise. Tickets can be purchased through the Idaho Central Arena box office today!
Season tickets are on sale now! For more information, call the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466 or visit govandals.com/tickets.
Idaho Athletics has announced that student tickets for all home football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer home games are completely free of charge. To claim yours, visit govandals.com/tickets.
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Vandal Hoops, follow the team on Instagram (vandalhoops), X (VandalHoops), and by visiting govandals.com.
