Preview: Idaho Vandals at Weber State Wildcats

OGDEN, Utah (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the tight Big Sky Conference race will meet Saturday when the Weber State Wildcats host the Idaho Vandals at the Dee Events Center.

Both teams enter the 6 p.m. MST tipoff with identical 10-win overall records. Idaho sits at 10-7, while Weber State is 10-8. The matchup is a crucial early conference test as the league schedule intensifies.

The Wildcats have found a rhythm, riding a four-game winning streak into the contest. Their surge has been fueled by guard Tijan Saine, who is averaging 19.7 points over his last three games. Saine dropped 23 points and dished five assists in Weber State’s most recent victory, a 91-80 win over Eastern Washington on Thursday.

Idaho looks to rebound from a tough road loss at Idaho State, 76-68, also on Thursday. The Vandals have shown resilience, with three of their seven losses coming by four points or fewer. Guard Jackson Rasmussen has been a consistent scorer, leading the team with 19 points in the loss to the Bengals. Over his last five games, Rasmussen is averaging 12.6 points.

Weber State’s offense has been potent during its streak, averaging 85 points per game over the four wins. Beyond Saine, Edwin Suarez (18 points vs. EWU) and Viljami Vartiainen provide additional scoring threats. The Wildcats will aim to exploit their home court advantage, where they are 7-2 this season.

Idaho’s path to victory likely involves controlling the tempo and leveraging its experience in close games. The Vandals have proven they can win on the road, as evidenced by an overtime victory at Cal Poly and a win at South Dakota State earlier this season.

The game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Moscow, Idaho, on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Saturday’s winner will gain valuable momentum and an early edge in the conference standings as the Big Sky season approaches its midpoint.