In a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU Thursday night, the Idaho Vandals (14-13, 6-8) fell 77-67 to the Portland State Vikings (18-7, 12-2) at the Viking Pavilion in Portland. The game marked the first linear ESPN broadcast from Portland since 2009, adding extra intensity to a late-season Big Sky Conference showdown.
With the victory, Portland State secured its 12th conference win and widened its lead atop the standings, moving three games ahead of the second-place Montana State Bobcats. The Vikings completed a season sweep of Idaho after previously defeating the Vandals 69-66 in Moscow on Jan. 24 in what was then a matchup between two of the league’s top teams.
A lot has changed since that meeting.
The late January loss sparked a difficult stretch for Idaho, which has now gone 2-6 over its last eight games after opening the season 12-7. The Vandals entered Thursday with some renewed momentum after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 99-66 victory over the Idaho State Bengals, but Portland State quickly halted that momentum.
After falling behind 41-27 in the first 20 minutes, Idaho’s struggles continued coming out of halftime as the Vikings exploded offensively. Portland State pushed its advantage to 20 points by the first media timeout of the second half.
Despite the deficit, Idaho refused to go quietly.
Miles Klapper ignited a comeback attempt with a deep three-pointer that sparked a 22-5 Vandals run. The surge cut the Portland State lead to a single possession, as Idaho’s three-point shooting gave them a surge of momentum. The Vandals knocked down 11 three-pointers, marking the 19th game this season in which Idaho has made at least 10 shots from beyond the arc.
Leading the way offensively for Idaho was senior guard Isaiah Brickner, who delivered his fourth 20-point performance of the season. Brickner scored 22 points while adding five rebounds. Freshman forward Jackson Rasmussen also continued his consistent scoring stretch, pouring in 18 points for his 17th double-figure performance of the year. Redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell finished with 14 points and five assists.
However, Portland State responded well down the stretch to seal the victory. The Vikings tightened defensively, forcing difficult shot attempts while converting key free throws to preserve their lead. Idaho struggled to generate balanced scoring, as only three players finished with more than six points. The Vandals also shot just 38% from the field.
For Portland State, multiple players stepped up to offset a rare off night from leading scorer senior forward Terri Miller Jr., who has historically played well against Idaho. Junior guard Keyon Kensie Jr. led the Vikings with 24 points, while senior guard Jaylin Henderson had another double- double with 20 points and 10 assists. Senior center Tre-Vaughn Minott also had a double-double, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The loss highlighted a continuing trend for Idaho. the final stretch of conference play. Early in the season, the Vandals’ physicality was a huge reason for their success. Over the past eight games, however, that identity has not consistently translated into efficient offense. Brickner and Rasmussen have carried much of the scoring load, but the Vandals will need broader offensive production as the postseason approaches.
Momentum often defines success in March, particularly in conference tournaments where teams must win multiple games in consecutive days. Idaho now faces a critical stretch in its final four regular-season games as it looks to regain consistency before the Big Sky Tournament in Boise.
The upcoming schedule provides opportunity. Idaho’s next matchups come against the Sacramento State Hornets and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, two of the three teams currently below the Vandals in the conference standings.
Idaho will continue their road trip as they visit the Hornets (9-17, 5-9). The Hornets and Vandals will tip off from Hornet Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.