Vandals, Eagles to Square Off on Primetime for Championship Berth

Idaho (19-14, 9-9) vs. Eastern Washington (14-18, 11-7)

• Idaho Central Arena (5,300) | Boise, Idaho

• 8:30 pm PT/9:30 pm MT: Tip-off on ESPN2

• Listen: Vandal Radio Network | The Varsity Network App (Dennis Patchin)

• Tickets

BOISE, Idaho – For the primary time since 1994, Idaho males’s basketball is ready to play in a Big Sky Conference semifinal for the second straight 12 months, this time towards Eastern Washington within the Tuesday evening late slot at Idaho Central Arena. Unlike most Big Sky video games this season, Tuesday’s semifinal is not going to be obtainable on ESPN+, however slightly solely on ESPN2. Fans will need to have entry to a TV supplier to catch the motion from residence.

UI’s Sunday evening quarterfinal victory over Montana State marked the primary time the Vandals have gained two video games at a convention event since 2014, and Idaho punched its ticket in a distinct style than the primary spherical win towards Sacramento State, posting a season-high 54 factors within the paint and having its second finest evening from the ground all 12 months, changing 56.4% of area aim makes an attempt.

The Vandals accomplished a season sweep of Eastern within the last recreation of the common season, beating the Eagles 85-81 in Cheney to snap EWU’s eight recreation profitable streak, behind six Black and Gold-clad gamers in double figures.

The recreation will tip-off at 9:30 PM MT/ 8:30 PM PT in Idaho Central Arena with the winner advancing to the convention title recreation on Wednesday evening to face off with the winner of Portland State and Montana.

IDAHO NOTES

• The Vandals’ victory over Idaho State in Moscow, a 30-point beatdown, is the most important such margin over the in-state foes for the reason that 1989-90 season.

  
  
  

• Idaho options 5 gamers on the roster that hail from the Gem State for the primary time for the reason that 1971-72 season

  
  
  

• Idaho’s February 19, 2026 recreation at Portland State was chosen to air on ESPNU as a part of the Big Sky’s distribution take care of the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

  
  
  

• The Vandals have had scoring success from in all places on the roster. Over half of the field scores this season have featured 4 or extra gamers in double figures and two video games towards DI competitors have seen six totally different Vandals with 10 or extra factors.

• A renewed emphasis on physicality within the paint has paid off for Idaho this 12 months, because the workforce is +4.2 in rebounding margin and has gained the battle on the glass in 20 of 32 video games to date. The Vandals completed -1.9 in that margin final season.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 120: The 2025-26 season marks the one hundred and twentieth 12 months of Idaho males’s basketball. In the primary 119 seasons, the Vandals gained 5 convention titles, made 4 NCAA event appearances, and had 5 All-American gamers.

• 3: Three Vandals earned honors from the Big Sky Conference when the common season got here to an finish. Jackson Rasmussen earned the league’s Freshman of the Year award, Isaiah Brickner was named Top Reserve, and Kolton Mitchell obtained Honorable Mention All-Big Sky.

• 100: All season lengthy, Idaho Basketball is remembering the life and legacy of the legendary Vandal, Don Monson. Monson was a three-time basketball letterman as a scholar, however his greatest honor was as head basketball coach from 1978 to 1983, the place he led the Vandals to a Sweet Sixteen look and earned 100 wins over 5 seasons

• 5: Five Idaho natives are on this season’s roster, essentially the most for the reason that 1971-72 season

• 60: Idaho’s streak of video games with 5+ made threes got here to an finish vs. Montana, having beforehand achieved the feat in 60 straight contests.

• 137: Idaho was 137th within the Dec. 8 NET rankings, the best mark in program historical past for the reason that rankings debuted in time for the 2018-19 season.

• 6: Following Jack Payne’s outing at Montana State, six Vandals have now crossed the 500-point threshold for their careers (Payne, Kolton Mitchell, Christian Gonzalez, Brody Rowbury, Biko Johnson, Isaiah Brickner)

• 1000: Senior ahead Brody Rowbury eclipsed 1,000 profession factors with a pair of sunk free throws within the win over Idaho State.

  
  
  

• 452: Gem State native Jackson Rasmussen cemented himself because the all-time chief in factors scored by a freshman in program historical past. His efforts vs. Montana State within the second spherical of Starch Madness, he sits at 452.

• 4: Idaho’s preseason rating in each Big Sky Preseason Polls, its highest since 2017

• 62.7: The Vandals return essentially the most minutes within the Big Sky, with three out of their 5 commonest starters staying in Moscow for the 2025-26 season

• 14: Head Coach Alex Pribble led Idaho to 14 common season wins final 12 months, essentially the most for the reason that 2017-18 season.

• 2: Two of Idaho’s common season video games are set to happen in Boise this season, the primary time the Vandals will play a daily contest within the state capital for the reason that fall of 2018.

• 312: The 2025-26 Vandals have relied closely on play from past the arc, setting a brand new faculty file for made triples at 312 Saturday towards Northern Colorado, breaking the earlier file of 308 that was set by the 2024-25 workforce.

• 20: Kolton Mitchell he has put up double-figures in 20 of his 30 appearances this season.

• 20: Biko Johnson you may have put up 20 or extra factors in 9 video games this season. The Vandals are 7-2 when he crosses that threshold.

• 21: The Vandals earned this system’s largest comeback win of the twenty first century vs. Montana State in January, trailing by 21 factors simply earlier than halftime and coming again to win 92-89 on the last buzzer.

UP NEXT
With a win, the Vandals will proceed their Starch Madness journey towards both Portland State or Montana on Wednesday evening at Idaho Central Arena. Tip off is ready for 8:30 pm PT/9:30 pm MT.

TICKETS
Single session and all-tournament tickets for Starch Madness are on sale now! Secure your tickets to cheer on the Vandals in Boise at starchmadness.com.

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