Sacramento State At Idaho

The Hornets (3-11), coached by former Idaho star Don Newman, visit the Vandals (5-8) for a 7:05 nonconference encounter tonight at the Kibbie Dome.

At a glance

Traditionally woeful, Sac State is experiencing a new phenomenon - a hot streak. Newman is in his third year trying to revive the program, and his 7-61 record looks and sounds awful. But consider that the Hornets have won three of their last five games and it’s apparent they’re improving. And consider that one of those losses was 77-72 in overtime to Gonzaga - which has defeated UI twice - and it would be wise for the Vandals not to take the Hornets for granted. Before defeating Grambling State in December, Sac State had lost 34 straight games, just seven shy of the NCAA futility mark. The Hornets, who ended a 55-game road losing skid by downing LoyolaChicago on Jan. 5, have no seniors. In Sac State’s last outing Jan. 8 against Gonzaga, junior guard Damond Edwards hit five 3-pointers. Sophomore center Adrian Hillman has played well of late, as noted by a line in Sac State’s media release: “Rapidly turning into competent front-court player in his first collegiate season.” Sac State’s nemeses have been rebounding and accurate jump shooting.

Idaho: Harry Harrison, 13.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg; Mark Leslie 11.9 ppg, 37% on 3-pointers. Sac State: Damond Edwards, 14.4 ppg; Mark Hunter, 11.1 ppg, 5.7 apg.

Radio: KVNI (1080 AM) Coeur d’Alene, KRPL (1400 AM) Moscow, and other stations on Vandals network.