Idaho Vandals face Sacramento State Hornets in Big Sky Tournament

The two teams will meet in the first round of the conference tournament

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Idaho Vandals, who finished the regular season with a 27-5 record and an 18-1 mark in Big Sky Conference play, will take on the Sacramento State Hornets in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament. Sacramento State enters the tournament with a 15-17 overall record and a 9-10 conference record.

Why it matters

The Big Sky Tournament represents the final chance for teams to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Both the Vandals and Hornets will be looking to extend their seasons with a tournament win.

The details

The Vandals and Hornets will face off in the opening round of the Big Sky Tournament. Idaho is the top seed in the tournament after dominating conference play during the regular season. Sacramento State earned the eighth and final spot in the tournament field despite a sub-.500 record in Big Sky games.

  • The Big Sky Tournament is scheduled to take place from March 11-14, 2026.
  • The first-round matchup between Idaho and Sacramento State is set for March 11.

The players

Idaho Vandals

The Idaho Vandals are the top seed in the Big Sky Tournament after posting a 27-5 overall record and an 18-1 mark in conference play during the regular season.

Sacramento State Hornets

The Sacramento State Hornets earned the eighth and final spot in the Big Sky Tournament field despite a 15-17 overall record and a 9-10 conference record.

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What’s next

The winner of the Idaho-Sacramento State matchup will advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament, which are scheduled for March 12.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup in the Big Sky Tournament features a clash between the conference's regular-season champion and a team that squeaked into the tournament field. Idaho will be heavily favored, but Sacramento State will be looking to pull off an upset and extend its season.