GAME NOTES – IDAHO vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON
MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men’s basketball team (7-10) is set to host the Eastern Washington Eagles (6-11) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the ICCU Arena.
After a weekend of mixed results on the road, the Idaho Vandals are returning home for a Saturday night rivalry matchup against the Eastern Washington Eagles. This game will take place following the conclusion of the women’s game, encouraging fans to arrive early to support both teams in the ICCU Arena.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Idaho vs. Eastern Washington // Jan. 18th at 4 p.m.
- Watch: ESPN+
- Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
- Listen: The Varsity Network
- Tickets: GoVandals.com/Tickets
NOTABLES
- The Vandal offense leads the conference with a total of 161 three-pointers this season, averaging 9.5 per game.
- Kristian Gonzalez is the top scorer for the Vandals, accumulating 189 points this season for an average of 11.8 points per game.
- Tyler Mrus tops the Big Sky with a 38.2% three-point shooting percentage and ranks second in total three-pointers made (39).
- On defense, Julius Mims leads Idaho with an average of 6.1 rebounds per game, which is the sixth highest in the Big Sky.
LAST TIME OUT Idaho suffered a 63-75 defeat on the road against Portland State on Thursday night. The Vandals struggled offensively in the first half and could not fully recover. Jack Payne scored 16 points for Idaho, with freshman Kolton Mitchell contributing 15 points.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES Eastern Washington’s head coach, Dan Monson, is well-known in the northwest. His father, Don Monson, has a commemorative banner in the ICCU Arena, honoring his time as the Vandals’ head coach from 1978-83, during which he secured two regular season and tournament championships. Dan Monson, who previously played football at Idaho, recently completed 17 seasons at Long Beach State, culminating in his fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Eagles arrive in Moscow after winning 65-54 against Sacramento State. Currently, they hold a 6-11 overall record and a 2-2 conference record, placing them fifth in the Big Sky. Andrew Cook leads the Eagles with an average of 15.2 points per game and boasts the highest free throw percentage in the Big Sky at 89.1%. Nic McClain supports the offense with an average of 14.6 points per game and has recorded 36 steals this season, the second-most in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY Idaho holds a 10-16 all-time record against Eastern Washington. The teams last met in the 2023-24 season, where Eastern Washington came out on top with an 87-79 victory.
UP NEXT Idaho starts a busy week with a trip to face Montana on Monday, Jan. 20, before returning home to play the University of Northern Colorado on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Northern Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 25.
TICKETS Single-game and season tickets are currently available. For more information, call the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466 or visit GoVandals.com/tickets.
FOLLOW Fans can stay updated with the Vandals all season on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @VandalHoops, as well as with the Voice of the Vandals, Dennis Patchin, at GoVandals.com/Listen. All home and conference games will be streamed live on ESPN+
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