Montana Grizzlies Edge Idaho Vandals in Close Contest
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · ICCU Arena
Montana Grizzlies 79, Idaho Vandals 73, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Montana Grizzlies vs Idaho Vandals?
Montana Grizzlies beat Idaho Vandals 79-73 at ICCU Arena on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Montana Grizzlies vs Idaho Vandals?
Idaho Vandals were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the ICCU Arena, the Montana Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Vandals with a final score of 79-73. This victory marked an important moment for Montana, as it extended their winning streak to two games while handing Idaho their first loss in three contests. Both teams entered the game with similar records, Idaho at 9-6 and Montana at 9-7, making this fixture particularly compelling as they vied for positioning in the NCAAB standings.
Idaho's recent form had shown promise, with a record of 7-3 over their last ten games. They had been averaging 82.1 points scored per game while allowing 72.5. Their last five games reflected a strong performance, with an average of 80.8 points scored and 72.0 points allowed. They were coming off a narrow victory against the Eastern Washington Eagles, winning 84-81, and had a solid home record of 4-1.
Conversely, Montana had been struggling somewhat, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games, although they had found some momentum recently with their two consecutive wins. They averaged 77.9 points scored and 77.0 points allowed during this stretch. Their last five games showed an average of 79.4 points scored and 73.0 points allowed, indicating a slight improvement in their offensive output. However, their away record stood at 1-2, which added an extra layer of challenge to their performance in Idaho.
Historically, this matchup has not favored Idaho, as they entered this game with a 0-3 record against Montana in their last three meetings. The previous encounters included a 55-78 loss on March 12, 2025, and a close 67-72 defeat on January 21, 2025. This backdrop added pressure on Idaho to turn the tide in their favor.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability for either team, which could have impacted the game dynamics. However, the absence of key players can often shift the balance in tightly contested matches like this one.
The betting market had Idaho favored to win by 4.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 154.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, although Idaho's home court advantage was recognized in the spread. The odds for Idaho's moneyline were set at -218.0, while Montana's moneyline was at 180.0.
The game conditions were typical for a basketball matchup, with no specific weather-related factors impacting the indoor venue. As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a back-and-forth contest that showcased the resilience of both teams. Key moments included a series of free throws and critical layups from Montana's Money Williams, who played a pivotal role in the closing minutes, helping his team secure the win.
As the final buzzer sounded, Montana's victory not only improved their record but also provided a significant boost to their confidence as they continue their season. Idaho will need to regroup and address the challenges they faced in this game as they look ahead to their next match.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | IDHO -4.5 | 154.5 o -108 / u -112 | Montana Grizzlies +180 · Idaho Vandals -218 |
Leaders
- PointsJackson Rasmussen16Idaho Vandals
- AssistsJackson Rasmussen2Idaho Vandals
- ReboundsJackson Rasmussen7Idaho Vandals
- PointsMoney Williams35Montana Grizzlies
- AssistsMoney Williams5Montana Grizzlies
- ReboundsTyler Thompson5Montana Grizzlies
Recent form
Idaho Vandals
Last 10: 7-3Streak W182.1 scored · 72.5 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W84-81vs Eastern Washington EaglesJan 3
- L63-64at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersDec 23
- W83-80at Cal Poly MustangsDec 22
- W109-55vs Evergreen State GeoducksDec 14
- L65-80at Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 11
- W84-81at South Dakota State JackrabbitsDec 6
- W90-58vs North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 4
- L68-94vs Sam Houston BearkatsNov 29
- W78-64at Cal State Northridge MatadorsNov 27
- W97-68vs Eastern Oregon MountaineersNov 23
Montana Grizzlies
Last 10: 4-6Streak W277.9 scored · 77 allowed per game1-2 away
- W88-79vs Northern Colorado BearsJan 3
- W78-64vs Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 1
- L54-94at Louisville CardinalsDec 20
- L75-82vs Montana Tech OrediggersDec 18
- W102-46vs Salish Kootenai BisonDec 11
- W79-75at North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 7
- L72-81vs North Dakota State BisonDec 4
- L87-95vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesNov 26
- L63-68vs Lamar CardinalsNov 23
- L81-86at Texas A&M AggiesNov 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Montana Grizzlies | Idaho Vandals |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-52 | 25-64 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 8-24 | 4-23 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 17 |
| Free throws | 19-22 | 19-29 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 66 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 4 | 17 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 24 |
| Assists | 14 | 6 |
| Steals | 6 | 9 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 3 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 40 |
| Fouls | 25 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 18 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 89 | 2 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half51-44Kolton Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half53-44Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup
- 2nd Half53-46Jackson Rasmussen makes layup
- 2nd Half53-47Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-48Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-49Brody Rowbury makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-50Brody Rowbury makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-52Isaiah Brickner makes layup (Jackson Rasmussen assists)
- 2nd Half55-52Money Williams makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-52Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-53Kolton Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Kolton Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-54Money Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half59-54Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half60-54Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-55Biko Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-57Jackson Rasmussen makes layup
- 2nd Half61-57Tyler Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-57Tyler Thompson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-57Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-57Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-58Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-59Jackson Rasmussen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-59Te'Jon Sawyer makes 22-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half67-61Jackson Rasmussen makes layup
- 2nd Half67-64Kolton Mitchell makes 26-foot three point jumper (Trevon Blassingame assists)
- 2nd Half67-67Isaiah Brickner makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kolton Mitchell assists)
- 2nd Half67-69Brody Rowbury makes layup
- 2nd Half69-69Money Williams makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half69-71Brody Rowbury makes layup
- 2nd Half70-71Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-71Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-73Jackson Rasmussen makes layup
- 2nd Half72-73Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-73Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-73Money Williams makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half76-73Tyler Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-73Tyler Thompson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-73Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-73Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Idaho Vandals, below favours Montana Grizzlies.
Venue
- ICCU ArenaMoscow, ID
- Attendance1785
- OfficialsCasey McClellan, Mark Fulton, Nomi Kidwai
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond