MOSCOW, Idaho - The last week of the regular season features a lot of quick turnarounds. With still so much to be decided before all ten Big Sky conference teams head to Boise for the annual postseason tournament, we've got one more crucial matchup to play.
After a thrilling and emotional senior day win over Weber State, the Vandals have to hit the road one more time before March truly becomes Madness. UI will take the bus to frozen Bozeman, Montana for a rematch with Montana State on Monday, March 3.
LAST TIME OUT
Way back in early January, Idaho and MSU tipped off the conference season with their first Big Sky games of the year. The duo of Tylers, Mrus and Linhardt, put up 14 apiece to earn the Vandals a key early season win, 69-64, over a Bobcat squad that was picked to finish first in the league after three trips to the NCAA Tournament in three years.
Montana State has picked back up after a two game skid, earning a dominant 87-60 road win over Sacramento State following tough losses to Portland State, 69-52, and rival Montana, 89-85.
Idaho similarly got back in the win column after dropping their final two games of February, falling on the road to current first-place Northern Colorado, 92-74, and then a heartbreaking last minute loss to in-state rival Idaho State, 69-65, in Moscow.
SCOUTING THE 'CATS
Montana State features a team similar to the Vandals in that you can't really gameplan to take one scorer out of the game, because there are multiple others just as likely to go off. The Bobcats' roster features five players averaging between eight and fourteen points a game, posing a versatile threat to any opposing defense.
Brandon Walker has emerged as the leading scorer for MSU, bringing in over 14 PPG off of 53% shooting from the field, making him one of the most reliable weapons in a loaded roster.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MONTANA STATE
The Vandals have a storied history with many teams, but few date as far back as the series with MSU. Tomorrow will be the 126th meeting with the 'Cats since the 1916-17 season, providing over a century's worth of memories against the blue and gold.
Idaho holds a 54-71 record all time against Montana State, but have gotten the better of them in recent years, winning three of the last four, including the most recent matchup in Moscow.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, and Vandal Fans are encouraged to tap in to The Varsity Network and hear the Voice of the Vandals, Dennis Patchin, calling the action.
