Idaho will host Portland State Feb. 18 in a BracketBusters game (Photo: SWX)by Univ. of Idaho Athletics
University of Idaho basketball learned on Monday that it will host Portland State in its Sears BracketBusters game on Feb. 18 at the Cowan Spectrum.
The game, which is also Idaho's Senior Night, will tip off at 7:05 p.m. (PT), pits Idaho (11-10, 4-3 Western Athletic Conference) against the Big Sky's PSU Vikings (10-11, 4-5 BSC). The Vikings hold a 10-8 series lead against Idaho, but the teams have met just once in the last 33 seasons – a 61-59 PSU victory on Dec. 10, 2005, at Moscow.
"I don't know much about the team, but I know the head coach, Tyler Geving, pretty well," Idaho head coach Don Verlin said. "I've known him for a long time and he's a good coach and it's a good program."
The Vikings and Vandals have played several common opponents this season. Both hold victories over Seattle U, Louisiana Tech and CSU Bakersfield. Portland State lost to Oregon State, which Idaho beat, and the Vikings hold a win over Eastern Washington, which beat the Vandals.
Portland State is averaging 76.4 points on 48.0 percent shooting, while opponents are scoring 73.7 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting against the Vikings.
Idaho is 3-4 all-time in BracketBusters matchups, including last year's 65-50 victory at Montana State. The last time Idaho hosted a BracketBusters game was in 2009-10, when the Vandals lost to Long Beach State, 77-66, at the Cowan Spectrum.
