Boise, ID (8/24/17)— College basketball comes to downtown Boise on December 21st, when the University of Idaho Vandal Men’s and Women’s basketball teams visit CenturyLink Arena for a full day of NCAA action.
CenturyLink Arena will host a Vandals double-header, with the women’s team scheduled to tip off against Eastern Oregon University at 5pm and the men’s team facing UC Irvine in the evening at 7pm.
“I think it’s really important to play a game in the Treasure Valley, where our biggest alumni group is,” said men’s basketball coach Don Verlin. “We’re excited to go down there and play on December 21st.”
The Vandal men’s team was 19-14 last season overall, and 12-6 in conference play, finishing fourth in the Big Sky Conference. They will face a UC Irvine team coming off a 21-15 season and a first-place finish in the Big West.
“I’m really happy to have UC Irvine coming in, a really good opponent and one of the best teams in the Big West Conference,” said Verlin. “It’s a team that’s been very, very good over the last four or five years. I think it’s a quality opponent for our fans to watch us play.”
The women’s team finished fifth in the Big Sky Conference at 11-7 (19-5 overall).
The two games will be the first college basketball contests held at CenturyLink Arena since November 25, 2014 when the Vandal men played against Boise State.
“Our city is full of avid basketball fans, but also passionate Vandal fans and alumni,” said CenturyLink Arena General Manager Eric Trapp. “This event is a great opportunity to bring in four talented programs for fans in our area, and also to bring competitive basketball back into our building.”
Tickets for the games will go on sale at a future date to be determined soon. For more information, contact CenturyLink Arena at 383-0080 or visit online at centurylinkarenaboise.com.