Inside the Vandals

12/07/2025

It isn’t often that South Dakota State University men’s basketball team loses at home, but the Idaho Vandals defeated the Jackrabbits 84-81 in First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings, SD on Saturday.

Idaho’s Kolton Mitchell was the game's leading scorer with 22 points. Idaho had five players in double-digits.

The Vandals trailed by a seven-point margin at one point in the first half before cutting the deficit to 44-41 at halftime.

SDSU opened the second half with a three-point play, and was ahead 53-46 with 17 minutes, 40 seconds remaining, but strong shooting by the Vandals got Idaho out in front at 56-54 with 14:14 to go.

From there, the two sides traded baskets in what was a hard-fought game, with SDSU missing a three-pointer as the clock was winding down.

The Vandals shot nearly 52% from the floor in the second half and hit 11 three-pointers in the game.

Idaho out-rebounded SDSU, 34-30.

The Vandals shot 21 of 29 on free throws.

Idaho improved to 6-3 on the season while the Jackrabbits fell to 5-5. The game was part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.

The win by Idaho was just the 11th home loss for South Dakota State in the last decade.

Up next for the Vandals— a trip to South Bend to face Notre Dame on Dec. 10.

(File photo)

12/06/2025

Kyra Gardner had 16 points and 12 rebounds— her first career double-double— to lead Idaho women’s basketball past the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, 84-54.

Idaho outscored the Pioneers in every quarter of the game at Hamilton Gym in Denver, a satisfying outcome after Wednesday’s disappointing loss at home.

“Great bounce back win,” coach Arthur Moreira said. “I was not happy with our effort and lack of toughness in Wednesday's game. I thought the team responded really well today and played hard for the entirety of the game.”

Mary McMorris scored a season-high 12 points and had four assists.

Hope Hassmann had 14 points and four assists.

Ella Uriarte had 10 points and three rebounds.

Ana Beatriz Passos Alves da Silva had eight points and five rebounds.

Sarah Brans had six points and six rebounds.

At 8-2, Idaho is off to its best start since the 2003-04 season (9-1), the halcyon days of Emily Faurholt and Lelaini Mitchell.

The Vandals head next to Berkeley to take on California on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 p.m. PT.

(File photo)

12/05/2025

Idaho MBB vs. South Dakota State: Preview

By Max Moss
Inside the Vandals

After a dominant home win over North Dakota, Vandal men's basketball (5-3) finishes up the Big Sky-Summit Challenge on Saturday, December 6 in Brookings, SD to face the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (5-4).

This will be the 11th meeting all-time between Idaho and SDSU, and the two clubs have split the last ten evenly.

The Vandals were defeated in each of their last three trips to South Dakota.

Saturday will see the 2025 Big Sky-Summit Challenge conclude, and the trophy will be awarded to the conference with the most wins throughout the competition.

The Big Sky won 12 of Wednesday's 22 games, and holds a slight edge heading into Saturday's contests.

The Vandals easily handled North Dakota 90-58 on Wednesday, their largest win over a fellow DI program since 2022.

Isaiah Brickner's career high 26 points led the Idaho attack. Biko Johnson added six assists, and Seth Joba had eight rebounds.

The Jackrabbits also won their first Challenge game on Wednesday, taking down Northern Arizona 75-62 on the road. They are undefeated at 3-0 on home court this season.

Saturday's game will tip off at 12:00 p.m. PT from the First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings.

The game will be carried on The Summit League Network, the Vandal Radio Network and the Varsity Network app.

12/05/2025

The Idaho men have been picked fourth and the Idaho women sixth in the pre-season Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Coaches Polls.

The polls were released Friday.

The men’s team has several key athletes returning from the 2025 team that finished fifth at the Big Sky indoor meet, including Big Sky Indoor Freshman of the Year Jesuye Doherty.

Key additions on the women’s side include Sydnie Zywina, a 2025 NAIA All-American triple jumper at Lewis-Clark State, and 11-time Idaho high school champion Lexi Huettig.

The Vandals begin the indoor season at the Spokane Showcase on January 16.

12/05/2025

Idaho WBB vs. Denver: Preview

By Max Moss
Inside the Vandals

After having their six game win streak snapped Wednesday against Oral Roberts, Vandal women's basketball (7-2) finishes up the Big Sky-Summit Challenge on Saturday, December 6 when they travel to Denver, CO to face the Denver Pioneers (3-5).

Idaho is a perfect 5-0 all time against DU, and won last season's matchup 60-51 on the road.

Saturday will see the 2025 Big Sky-Summit Challenge conclude, and the trophy will be awarded to the conference with the most wins throughout the competition.

The Big Sky won 12 of Wednesday's 22 games, and holds a slight edge heading into Saturday's contests.

The Vandals fell just short and lost 92-89 on Wednesday against ORU.

Debora Dos Santos led Idaho with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Kyra Gardner added 17 points, four steals, and three blocks, and Hope Hassmann had six assists.

The Pioneers lost a tight contest in their first Challenge game, 66-65 on the road against Eastern Washington.

DU has lost its last two games, but won their last two on home court.

Saturday's game will tip off at 11:00 a.m. PT from the Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, and will be carried on The Summit League Network and the Vandal Radio Network.

12/05/2025

Idaho soccer standout midfielder Annika Farley has been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Third Team.

“She is a special player and has had a great career at Idaho,” coach Jeremy Clevenger said. “Her play and leadership were key to our success over the last four seasons, and I am happy that she can cap her time in Moscow with this honor."

Farley, a captain for the Vandals, scored 14 goals in her Vandal career and added four assists while playing in 77 games and starting in 74 during her career.

She becomes the second Vandal player all time to earn All-Region honors for multiple seasons, joining Chelsea Small.

(Idaho Athletics photo)

12/04/2025

Idaho was down early to North Dakota at ICCU Arena Wednesday night, 10-5.

It was a different game from that point forward, and the Vandals prevailed in dominating fashion, 90-58.

The good news was spread around for the home team, as four players finished in double figures in scoring— Isaiah Brickner (26, a career high), Seth Joba (13), Biko Johnson (12), and Trevon Blassingame (12).

Idaho shot 27-52 from the field, 14-29 from three, and 22-24 from the free throw line.

Idaho got 59 points off the bench and scored 23 points off North Dakota turnovers.

With the win, the Vandals improved to 5-3 on the season and 3-0 at home.

1,636 fans were on hand Wednesday at ICCU Arena.

This was the 11th career meeting between the two programs, and Idaho leads the all-time series 8-3.

Idaho will continue play in the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge on Saturday at South Dakota State, noon PT.

12/04/2025

Idaho football says it has signed the highest-ranked class in the Big Sky Conference, the second-highest rated in FCS, and the highest-ranked class in program history per 247Sports.

The Vandals welcomed new student-athletes on Wednesday.

“I couldn't be more fired up about our 2026 class,” coach Thomas Ford, Jr. said. “We developed deep relationships with these student-athletes and their families, some of which have spanned over two years.”

Several athletes in the 2026 class hail from the Pacific Northwest, including two from Idaho, two from Oregon, and six from Washington.

“We are not only bringing in high-level athletes, but also high-character young men,” Ford said.

The list:

OCEAN TAUFA
Defensive Line / 6’3” / 265
St. George, Utah (Bishop Gorman HS)

KINGSTON KERKHOFF
Offensive Line | 6’6” | 265
Tacoma, Wash. (Curtis Senior)

KENNY GOLSTON
Running Back | 6’0” | 216
Valliant, Okla. (Valliant HS)

TAU MAREKO
Linebacker | 6’1” | 215
Lakewood, Wash. (Lakes HS)

NUI MEYERS
Edge | 6’3” | 220
Hau’ula, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)

LANDON SCHROM
Linebacker | 6’2” | 215
Oceanside, Calif. (Army & Navy Academy)

BLITZ MCCARTY
Quarterback | 6’3” | 200
Denver, Colo. (Grandview HS)

GEOVONEY BURKS
Linebacker | 6’1” | 215
Portland, Ore. (Roosevelt HS)

TRISTAN BAKER
Wide Receiver | 6’1” | 190
Lacey, Wash. (Lakes HS)

OMAR KABA
Offensive Line | 6’4” | 290
Mesa, Ariz. (Williams Field HS)

CARTER PAUL
Offensive Line | 6’7” | 310
Portland, Ore. (Lakeridge HS)

JACE WI******ER
Offensive Line | 6’3” | 290
Littleton, Colo. (Dakota Ridge HS)

LUCA MOORE
Safety | 6’0” | 185
Anacortes, Wash. (Anacortes HS)

JERRY ALLEN III
Cornerback | 6’2” | 180
Spokane, Wash. (Rogers HS)

ETHAN RODRIGUEZ
Athlete | 6’5” | 220
Rochester, Wash. (Rochester HS)

JERMELL GREEN
Cornerback | 6’4” | 175
Sacramento, Calif. (Destiny Christian Academy)

JJ HOMUTH
Tight End | 6’7” | 230
Burnsville, Minn. (Rochester Community & Technical College)

DOMINIC WOLTHUIS
Wide Receiver | 6’1” | 170
Eagle, Idaho (Bishop Kelly HS)

BRITTON DEWITT
Quarterback | 6’2” | 195
Gilbert, Ariz. (American Leadership Academy)

NASH O’KELLEY
Linebacker | 6’2” | 210
Boise, Idaho (Timberline HS)

(Updated with correction)

12/03/2025

Oral Roberts University scored 36 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday at ICCU Arena, and defeated Idaho women's basketball, 92-89.

"I thought they beat us at our game there in the fourth quarter," Idaho coach Arthur Moreira said on the Vandal Radio Network post-game show. "They were better in transition, they made some big shots...they got the rebounds that mattered."

The win by the Golden Eagles snapped Idaho's six-game winning streak.

The Vandals led 43-38 at halftime and had double-dight leads in the second half before ORU came back.

Even in the loss, Idaho got big games from several players, led by Debora Dos Santos' 22 points and 15 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time.

Kyra Gardner had 17 points, six rebounds, and three blocks, and Hope Hassmann added 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists.

Lorena Barbosa had 10 points and five rebounds.

Wednesday's game was part of the annual Big Sky-Summit Challenge.

The game featured a noisy and enthusiastic crowd, as the annual Education Day game brought in hundreds of elementary-age students from around the Moscow area. Overall attendance was listed at 2,486.

With the loss, Idaho is now 7-2 overall on the season. The Vandals play at Denver on Saturday.

12/03/2025

12/03/2025

Idaho MBB vs. North Dakota: Preview

by Max Moss
Inside the Vandals

Vandal men’s basketball (4-3) returns to Moscow on Wednesday, December 3rd coming off a split of its two Holiday Hoops Classic games in Boise during the Thanksgiving break.

Idaho welcomes the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (3-6) to the ICCU Arena.

Wednesday’s game will open play in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, for the third annual year of the competition.

Big Sky and Summit League schools will face off in men’s and women’s games on 12/3 and 12/6, and a trophy will be awarded based on which conference wins more games.

Each school will play one home and one away game. The Summit League has won the previous two tournaments. Idaho will travel to Brookings, SD on Saturday to conclude the Challenge against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

After defeating Cal State Northridge in their first game last week in Boise, the Vandals come up short against Sam Houston State in the second.

Four or more Vandals have finished in double-figures in five of UI's first seven games, including Jack Payne's 14 points against Sam Houston State.

The Hawks are coming off a 92-55 road loss on Friday against Hawaii and have lost three of their last four. They will conclude the Challenge on Saturday hosting the Montana Grizzlies.

Wednesday’s game will tip off at 6:00 p.m. PT from ICCU Arena in Moscow. The game will be carried on ESPN+, and can be heard on the Vandal Radio Network and on the Varsity Network app.

12/02/2025

Idaho men's golf will welcome in three new teammates next fall.

Coach David Nuhn announced his 2026 recruiting class: Miguel Morato Brede is from Kassel, Germany; Moritz Ampenberger will come to Moscow from Olching, Germany: and Brae Rogalczyk is from Innisfail, Alberta.

"I am incredibly excited to welcome Brae, Miguel, and Moritz to the Vandal family," Nuhn said. "As was with our current freshman class, these three possess a high level of golf skill.

"More importantly, they are intelligent, excited to learn and grow in the game of golf, and I believe, have the inner drive to become elite college golfers, as they pursue meaningful degrees from the University of Idaho," Nuhn said.

Four seniors will graduation next May.

The Vandals return to action on Feb. 15 at the Loyola Intercollegiate at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz.