GAME NOTES - IDAHO VS PORTLAND STATE

MOSCOW, Idaho - There's only four weeks left in the 2024-25 regular season. 

As crazy as that may seem, it's true. The conference slate has flown by in a lot of ways and Idaho Basketball will be heading to Boise for the Big Sky Conference Tournament around this time next month. But that's way out there, and we've got lots of work to do before that day comes.

The next challenge for the Vandals is just the third rematch of the season. After a home-and-home non-conference series with UC Davis and facing Montana twice in just over two weeks, Portland State is coming to Moscow for round two.

LAST TIME OUT
A strong team at home, the Vikings got the best of the Vandals in their first matchup of the year in mid–January, scoring 52 of their 75 points in the paint and holding Idaho to their third-lowest point total of the season.

Portland State is coming off of their first pair of back-to-back losses in the conference slate, traveling to Missoula, MT to take on the Griz, where the home team reigned supreme, 92-78. They then traveled to Bozeman to tip-off with Montana State, where they rallied from down 12 with three minutes left, but came up just short, 73-74.

Idaho split their road slate in Ogden and Pocatello, first taking on Weber State in the Dee Events Center and using clutch shooting late to come out on top, 82-74, for the first win in Ogden since 2018. The first round of Battle for King Spud went the way of the Bengals, unfortunately, as Idaho State shot 16-26 (62%) from three to run away with the 86-71 victory.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Portland State is a physical team, and no one can say otherwise. They do most of their damage in the paint, as evidenced by scoring most of their points there the last time they faced Idaho.

Jaylin Henderson continues to be an offensive weapon for the green and white, averaging 14.0 PPG and 2.0 threes per game. He gets most of his feeds from Qiant Myers, who currently averages 6.6 assists per game, a firm conference lead as he is the only Big Sky player to average more than six in a game.

Tre-Vaughn Minnott continues to be one of the most reliable bigs off the glass, averaging 6.7 rebounds per game, fifth in the Big Sky.

SERIES HISTORY VS. PORTLAND STATE 
In just 23 matchups between Portland State and Idaho, it's been close to a split. The Vikings have a four-game lead in the series since 2011, but have taken the lead by winning nine of the last ten. The Vandals' most recent win came on the road in 2022, when they went into the Viking Pavilion and took out a narrow 84-79 victory.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, and Vandal Fans are encouraged to tap in to The Varsity Network to hear the Voice of the Vandals, Dennis Patchin, calling the action.

QUICK LINKS: Watch (ESPN+) // Listen (The Varsity Network)