Backed by a strong contingent of fans, Weber State University’s men’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 77–69 victory over Idaho State University on Jan. 11 in Pocatello, Idaho. The Wildcats secured their first Big Sky Conference win of the season, shooting a season-best 58.8% from the field.
Around 100 students and 50 WSU Alumni, paid for by Dillon Jones, made the trip to Pocatello to support the enriched rivalry between WSU and ISU. The lively support of the student section helped energize Weber State as they sought to rebound from a 0–2 start to Big Sky conference play.
Weber State took control late in the first half, closing on an 8–0 run to secure a 36–30 lead at halftime. Senior guard Dyson Koehler was instrumental in the opening period, scoring 16 of his team-high 21 points, including 5-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
“I just felt comfortable understanding we can continue to carry it on,” Koehler said. “We came out ready to play, and if we don’t do that, we’re just going to get blown out like we did in Colorado.”
The Wildcats maintained their advantage throughout the second half, leading by as many as 13 points. Koehler finished the game, shooting seven of 11 from the field and six of eight from 3-point range. Blaise Threatt and Vasilije Vucinic each added 17 points to the effort, with Threatt contributing seven rebounds and three steals.
“I think we are finding our identity as a team, and I think that’s the reason to why we won tonight,” Vucinic said.
Weber State dominated in the paint, outscoring Idaho State 42–26, and limited the Bengals to 40% shooting from the field. The Wildcats also capitalized on their defensive rebounding, holding the Bengals to just 13 offensive boards despite Idaho State ranking among the top teams nationally in rebounding percentage.
Idaho State was led by Dylan Darling, who scored a game-high 28 points, and Jake O’Neil, who added 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Wildcat Miguel Tomley’s homecoming in Pocatello wasn’t as expected. Tomley finished with 5 points while shooting two of eight from the field and going one of four from the 3-point line. The last time WSU and ISU faced off was in February 2024, when Miguel dropped 26 in Orange and Black to take the season sweep over the Wildcats for the first time in 20 years.
The Wildcats, now 7–10 for the season and 1–2 in the Big Sky, head home after playing four consecutive road games to play against the University of Montana on Jan. 16 and Montana State University on Jan. 18.