Idaho's Biko Johnson stole the show at the Dee Events Center, scoring 26 points and grabbing 6 rebounds to lead the Vandals to a 75-67 victory over Weber State. Johnson's impressive performance was matched by Weber State's Tijan Saine Jr., who tallied 25 points and 6 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Vandals' strong first-half showing.
Idaho came out firing, building a 41-29 lead by halftime. The Vandals' offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Johnson and Jackson Rasmussen combining for 25 points in the first 20 minutes. Weber State, on the other hand, struggled to find its rhythm, with Saine Jr. shouldering much of the scoring load.
In the second half, Weber State made a push to get back in the game, with Saine Jr. and Viljami Vartiainen leading the charge. The Wildcats outscored Idaho 38-34 in the final 20 minutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Malek Gomma chipped in with 8 points and 12 rebounds for Weber State, but the team's inability to contain Johnson and the Vandals' supporting cast ultimately proved costly.
Johnson's 26 points paced Idaho, while Rasmussen added 16 points and 5 rebounds. Kolton Mitchell contributed 12 points off the bench, helping the Vandals maintain their lead late. For Weber State, Saine Jr.'s 25 points and 6 assists were a highlight, but the team's lack of depth and inconsistent shooting ultimately led to its downfall.
The win improves Idaho's record to 12-8, while Weber State falls to 10-11. This game was a Quadrant 3 win for Idaho and a Quadrant 4 loss for Weber State, which could have implications for both teams' tournament resumes. With the victory, Idaho strengthens its position as a potential mid-major contender, while Weber State want to regroup and refocus in its upcoming conference games.
As it stands, Idaho's net ranking of 161 looks more impressive with this road win, especially considering Weber State's respectable net ranking of 194. The Vandals want to build on this momentum as they continue their season, while Weber State will aim to bounce back from this non-conference setback. For now, Idaho's resume gets a boost from this solid road win, which could pay dividends when tournament time rolls around.