Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, January 31
Ogden
1:00 p.m.
Weber State University
11-11,5-4Big Sky
81
vs
79
Idaho State
10-12,3-6Big Sky
1
2
F
Idaho St.
38
41
79
Weber St.
33
48
81
Tijan Saine and ArDarius Grayson combined for 42 points in Saturday's win.
Photo by: Freddie Lacey
Grayson's 3-pointer gives Wildcats a thrilling 81-79 win over Idaho State
1/31/2026 4:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tijan Saine scored 28 points and ArDarius Grayson scored a career-high 14 points in Saturday's win.
OGDEN - With the new WSU GM Damian Lillard looking on, Wildcat freshman ArDarius Grayson scored a career-high and knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds to lift Weber State to a thrilling 81-79 win over Idaho State Saturday afternoon at the Dee Events Center.Â
Grayson and Tijan Saine Jr. combined for 42 points as Saine tied his Weber State career-high with 28 points and Grayson added 14 points for the 'Cats.Â
Idaho State led by five points at halftime and led by as many as 13 points with 14:51 to play. Weber State responded with a 15-2 run and tied the game at 54-54 with 10 minutes to play.Â
The Bengals came back and took a six-point lead with 7:10 to play before a 12-1 Wildcat run gave WSU a five-point lead with 4:14 remaining.
ISU scored six straight points and regained the lead with 2:47 remaining and led by one with 79-78 when Grayson knocked down the game winner. Â
Idaho State shot 53 percent from the field, compared to 47 percent for Weber State, and both teams made nine 3-pointers. The Wildcats won the rebounding margin 33-26 and had 27 points off the bench.Â
Saine's 28 points tied his Weber State career-high and is the sixth time he reached 20 or more points in the nine Big Sky games. He also tied his season-high with eight assists and knocked down four 3-pointers. He was also 8 of 8 from the free throw line.Â
Grayson finished with a career-high 14 points. He also knocked down a career-high three 3-pointers.Â
Senior Nigel Burris added 11 points, and Viljami Vartiainen and Malek Gomma each had nine points. Gomma also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.  Â
Weber State was without two key players as Jace Whiting is still out with a foot injury, and Trevor Hennig missed the game due to illness.Â
The game marked the halfway point of the Big Sky regular season with the Wildcats at 5-4 in conference play.Â
Weber State started a stretch of four games in eight days and will play at Sacramento State on Monday night, before returning home to host Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona next Thursday and Saturday.Â
Grayson and Tijan Saine Jr. combined for 42 points as Saine tied his Weber State career-high with 28 points and Grayson added 14 points for the 'Cats.Â
Idaho State led by five points at halftime and led by as many as 13 points with 14:51 to play. Weber State responded with a 15-2 run and tied the game at 54-54 with 10 minutes to play.Â
The Bengals came back and took a six-point lead with 7:10 to play before a 12-1 Wildcat run gave WSU a five-point lead with 4:14 remaining.
ISU scored six straight points and regained the lead with 2:47 remaining and led by one with 79-78 when Grayson knocked down the game winner. Â
Idaho State shot 53 percent from the field, compared to 47 percent for Weber State, and both teams made nine 3-pointers. The Wildcats won the rebounding margin 33-26 and had 27 points off the bench.Â
Saine's 28 points tied his Weber State career-high and is the sixth time he reached 20 or more points in the nine Big Sky games. He also tied his season-high with eight assists and knocked down four 3-pointers. He was also 8 of 8 from the free throw line.Â
Grayson finished with a career-high 14 points. He also knocked down a career-high three 3-pointers.Â
Senior Nigel Burris added 11 points, and Viljami Vartiainen and Malek Gomma each had nine points. Gomma also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.  Â
Weber State was without two key players as Jace Whiting is still out with a foot injury, and Trevor Hennig missed the game due to illness.Â
The game marked the halfway point of the Big Sky regular season with the Wildcats at 5-4 in conference play.Â
Weber State started a stretch of four games in eight days and will play at Sacramento State on Monday night, before returning home to host Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona next Thursday and Saturday.Â
WHAT. A. WIN. #WeAreWeber // #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/mAwNs4NWwg
— Weber State Men's Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) January 31, 2026
ArDarius for the win!
— Weber State Men's Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) January 31, 2026
?? @justAD___ #WeAreWeber // #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/guIqBYIud9
just a kid from oakland.#WeAreWeber // #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/ocw0gTUdHl
— Weber State Men's Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) January 31, 2026
The sounds after a game winner. #WeAreWeber // #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/jtJXgdACwt
— Weber State Men's Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) January 31, 2026
ÂFull highlights from the thrilling win! #WeAreWeber // #WeberStateGreat pic.twitter.com/6ri3N3MwrQ
— Weber State Men's Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) February 1, 2026
Team Stats
ISU
Weber
FG%
.537
.475
3FG%
.409
.450
FT%
.800
.800
RB
26
33
TO
11
11
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
8
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballWeber State men's basketball beats Idaho State in thriller - 01/31/26
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MBB vs. Idaho State - 01/31/26
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