Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Idaho
Wildcats host Vandals Saturday night
1/16/2026 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State is riding a four-game winning streak and is 4-1 in Big Sky play.
• Riding a four-game winning streak, Weber State is home again Saturday night to host the Idaho Vandals at the Dee Events Center.
• The Wildcats and Vandals will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Tony Parks and former Weber State head coach and Big Sky Coach of the Year Joe Cravens on the call.
The Weber State radio broadcast with Carl Arky and former Wildcat and Big Sky MVP David Patten will be on 103.1 FM.
Live stats and video links are at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State improved to 10-8 overall and 4-1 in Big Sky play and won its fourth straight game with a 91-80 win over Eastern Washington on Thursday night. The 'Cats trailed by 10 points early in the second half before a 26-5 run gave the 'Cats the win. WSU made nine 3-pointers and outrebounded the Eagles 36-30.
• WSU had four players in double figures in Thursday's win and on the season has six players scoring in double figures. Weber State is one of three teams in the nation with six players averaging at least 10 points per game. Only Weber State, Texas A&M, and Saint Louis currently have six players in double figures.
• Weber State leads the Big Sky in scoring offense, now averaging 84.2 points per game. The 'Cats have reached 90 points in five games against Division I teams and have scored at least 80 points eight times.
• Weber State held Eastern Washington to 4 of 14 shooting from 3-point range. The Wildcats are fifth in the nation in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 27 percent from 3-point range. WSU has held its opponents to six or fewer made 3-pointers 10 times this season.
• Tijan Saine Jr. led the Wildcats in scoring for the fifth time this season as he scored 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting, and also added five assists and three steals. It was his fifth time scoring at least 20 points, including three of the last five games.
He is averaging 19.6 points per game in the five Big Sky games. On the season he is also fourth in the league in assist to turnover ratio and sixth in steals.
• Edwin Suarez Jr. added 18 points in just 21 minutes of play in Thursday's win. Suarez has reached double figures eight times this season. He is sixth in the Big Sky in rebounding at 6.8 per game.
• Viljami Vartiainen added 14 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. He also had a career-high six rebounds in the win. Vartiainen has scored in double figures in 10 of his 12 games played this season. He leads the Wildcats with 36 made 3-pointers this season and ranks second in the conference in 3-pointers per game. He is also third in the league in 3-point percentage at 40.4 percent.
• The Wildcats made nine 3-pointers in Thursday's win. They have made at least eight 3-pointers in eight games this season and are 6-2 in those games. The Wildcats are averaging 7.7 made 3-pointers per game.
• Idaho enters Saturday's game at 10-7 overall and 2-2 in Big Sky play. The Vandals opened Big Sky play with a home win over Eastern Washington, then lost to Montana, before a win over Montana State. They are coming off a 76-68 loss at Idaho State on Thursday night. The Vandals were 4 of 26 from 3-point range in Thursday's game.
• The Vandals lead the Big Sky and rank 20th in the nation in 3-pointers per game at 10.7. They are 22nd in the country in 3-point attempts per game at 29.5. They are third in the conference in 3-point percentage at 36.3 percent. Idaho is also third in rebounding and fourth in scoring offense and scoring defense.
• Idaho was 14-19 overall last season and finished in a tie for sixth in the Big Sky. The Vandals were picked to finish fourth this season in the preseason polls. Jack Payne was named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team.
• Idaho is coached by Alex Pribble who is in his third season in Moscow.
• Weber State is 65-27 all-time against Idaho. Both teams are charter members of the Big Sky but Idaho left the league in 1996 and returned in 2014. Since returning, Weber State is 13-7 against the Vandals.
Idaho won both games against the Wildcats last season.
In games in Ogden, Weber State is 38-7 all-time and has won five of the last six games.
• The Wildcats are coached by Eric Duft who is in his fourth season as head coach and his 20th season overall at Weber State. He spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach under Randy Rahe before becoming the 10th head coach in WSU history in May 2022. He has been on the coaching staff for over 600 games at Weber State, more than anyone in WSU's history.
This summer, NBA superstar and Wildcat legend Damian Lillard was named the General Manager of Weber State Basketball.
• Weber State returns to the Big Sky road next week playing at Montana on Thursday and at Montana State next Saturday.
