BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — A late-season surge has the Idaho Vandals positioned for a potential high finish in the Big Sky Conference as they prepare for a neutral-site rematch with the Eastern Washington Eagles on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The game, organized by the Big Sky, will tip off at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Idaho (19-14) enters on a three-game winning streak, including a 78-74 victory at Montana State on Sunday and a decisive 68-45 win over Sacramento State on Saturday. The Vandals have won five of their last seven, showcasing improved form as the regular season concludes. Eastern Washington (14-18) snapped a two-game skid with an 84-79 home victory over Weber State on Monday. Despite their record, the Eagles have been strong at home and present a formidable challenge, as evidenced by a tight 85-81 loss to these same Vandals just eight days ago in Cheney. That recent matchup on March 2 underscores the competitive nature of this series. Idaho also won the prior meeting this season, 84-81, on Jan. 3 in Moscow. Tuesday’s contest will be the rubber match on a neutral floor. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top performers. Idaho guard Biko Johnson is coming off a 19-point, 4-assist effort in 36 minutes against Montana State and scored 25 points in a road win at Sacramento State on Feb. 21. He had 13 points in the win at Eastern Washington earlier this month. Eastern Washington will counter with Alton Hamilton, who is playing at an elite level. Hamilton poured in 25 points in Monday’s win over Weber State and had 20 points in the narrow loss to Idaho. Over his last five games, he is averaging 21.4 points per contest. Despite Idaho’s superior record and recent head-to-head success, statistical models view this as a toss-up. National Statistical’s ELO system projects Eastern Washington with a narrow 50.90 percent probability to win, setting the stage for a closely contested battle in Boise. The outcome will impact seeding for the upcoming Big Sky tournament, with Idaho seeking to solidify its standing and Eastern Washington aiming to build momentum.