FINAL SCOREĀ
Idaho Vandals - 77
Montana Grizzlies - 66
SEASON RECORDS
Idaho - 21-14, Big Sky Conference Champion
Montana - 18-16, Big Sky Conference Runner-Up
VANDAL LEADERS
PTS - Isaiah Brickner (23)
AST - Kolton Mitchell (3)
REB - Ā Isaiah Brickner (10)
BLK - Isaiah Brickner (1)Ā
STL - Jack Payne (2)
NOTABLES
-
Idaho advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990.
-
Following the conclusion of the championship, Vandal hoopers Kolton Mitchell, Jackson Rasmussen, and Isaiah Brickner were named to the Big Sky's All-Tournament team for their efforts in Boise.
-
Across four games, Mitchell scored 14.5 points and grabbed 5.3 rebounds a game, and shot north of 85% from the charity stripe.
-
Brickner put up 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9% from the field and 81% of his trips to the line.
-
Rasmussen averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and went 55.6% from beyond the arc.
-
Isaiah Brickner posted his first career double-double, scoring a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.
-
In four wins in the conference tournament, Idaho allowed an average of just over 63 points per contest, only giving up 70 or more once all week.
-
Idaho had four scorers in double digits.
-
UI won the rebounding battle in three of four games in Boise.
BOISE, Idaho - For the first time in 36 years, Idaho Men's Basketball is Big Sky Tournament Champions and the team has punched its ticket to the Big Dance. Playing their fourth game in five days, the Vandals controlled the night from start to finish, holding the lead for nearly 28 minutes and shooting 41% from the field, claiming a 77-66 victory over the Montana Grizzlies in front of an electric Vandal crowd inside Idaho Central Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENEDĀ
The two sides traded blows early in a high-intensity opening half, as both teams battled to maintain momentum through the first 20 minutes.
Isaiah Brickner came flying out of the gates, splashing a three to open the scoring 40 seconds in, and delivering an absurd highlight reel putback dunk that fired up the Black and Gold faithful and sparked an 11-0 Vandal run to push UI's lead to double-digits by the 11:30 mark.Ā
The physicality of the contest ramped up as Biko Johnson was given a flagrant foul with 8:46 remaining in the half, adding another layer of intensity to an already heated championship matchup. Montana responded to Idaho's 11 straight points by ripping off a 17-4 span of their own over the next five minutes to take over the lead and claim as much as a five-point first-half advantage. UI outscored the Griz 6-2 in the half's final 2:45 to find themselves down just one at the break and with all of the momentum on their side.Ā
After a scoreless opening minute of the second period, the points began to flow, as the two teams combined for 13 over the next 3:33. Brody Rowbury made an impact in the opening stanza of the second half, knocking down a deadeye three from the top of the key to give Idaho an early bump. The Vandals began to seize control with disciplined defense and efficient offense, which allowed them to retake the lead.
From this point, Idaho would not trail, taking complete control of the night by blasting off on a 12-6 run to rebuild a 10-point gap. Rowbury struck again to close the streak, selling a pump fake before drilling another straight-on three as the shot clock expired, extending Idaho's gap to double digits with 8:32 remaining. The Vandals continued to dictate the tempo down the stretch, stringing together key stops while converting timely baskets on the offensive end.
Montana struggled to get any closer than 10 until under the two-minute mark, when Brickner punctuated his standout night with a powerful two-hand slam to reach the 20-point threshold and send the Idaho bench and the title game crowd to its feet.
Behind Brickner's dominant performance, the Vandals closed out the championship with an 11-point victory, as the San Diego native finished with his first career double-double, leading Idaho with 23 points and 10 boards in a performance that powered the Vandals to their first conference title in more than three decades.
UP NEXTĀ
Idaho has earned the Big Sky Conference's auto-bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The Vandals will learn their path during Sunday's Selection Show at 3 PM on CBS.Ā
FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date with Vandal Hoops, follow the team on Instagram, X, and visit govandals.com.Ā
Ā
