Idaho Basketball Achieves Milestone
The Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team reached the Big Sky Tournament championship game for the first time since 1993, defeating the Eastern Washington Eagles 81-68 in a semifinal showdown.
Idaho’s victory was led by Kolton Mitchell, who scored 26 points, showcasing the team’s offensive prowess. This win marks a significant achievement for the Vandals, who have increased their win total in each of head coach Alex Pribble’s three seasons, culminating in a current season record of 20-14.
Historically, the Big Sky Tournament has not been kind to the Vandals, with only two conference tournament wins since re-joining the Big Sky in the 2014-15 season. However, this year, Idaho has won at least four straight games for the first time since the 2017-18 season and has secured three victories in the Big Sky Tournament.
Pribble expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “What a great day to be a Vandal.” Mitchell echoed the sentiment, saying, “We have the best fans… It’s really special to be able to do it for them and hopefully we’re able to get it done tomorrow.”
With this win, Idaho’s men’s and women’s basketball teams both advanced to the Big Sky Championship in the same year for the first time since the 1989-90 season. This historic achievement adds to the excitement surrounding Idaho basketball.
Idaho has not won multiple games in a conference tournament since the 2013-14 season, and their last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1990. The Vandals are looking to change that narrative as they prepare for the championship game.
On March 11, 2026, Idaho will face the Montana Grizzlies in the Big Sky Championship game at 9:30 PM MT. Observers are eager to see if the Vandals can capitalize on their momentum and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final preparations for the championship game, but the excitement surrounding Idaho basketball continues to grow as the team aims for victory.
