Vandals visit Montana tonight in men's hoops

The Idaho men's basketball team plays at Montana tonight in the first of three straight games against opponents from the Big Sky, the league the Vandals will rejoin in 2014-15. Idaho and Montana tip off at 6 p.m. PST at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

The Vandals (4-5) and Grizzlies (1-4) will square off for the 180th time, with Idaho owning a 101-78 lead in the all-time series. The Grizzlies are coming off three straight losses to San Francisco, Washington and Hawai`i. However, Montana's 1-4 record may be a little deceptive. All four of Montana's losses have been against teams with .500 or better records, and Montana's five opponents are a combined 27-18 (.600) on the season.

Senior forward Stephen Madison leads the Vandals with 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Connor Hill's 13.2 points per game are second on the team and Glen Dean adds 12.1 points for the Vandals. Idaho's 73.6 free throw percentage on the season leads the Western Athletic Conference and ranks 62nd in NCAA Division I.

Montana is led by 19.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists from Kareem Jamar, who shoots 50.0 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. Keron Deshields adds 12.6 points per game for the Griz. The Griz have been dominated on the glass in their first five games with a minus-11.8 rebounding margin, which ranks 342nd out of 345 NCAA Division I schools.

The last time Idaho and Montana got together it was the Grizzlies taking a 66-63 win in Moscow a season ago. Montana shot 54 percent in the second half to erase Idaho's 34-30 halftime lead. Jamar scored a team-high 17 points for Montana and Madison led all scorers with 22 points for the Vandals.

NIC conducting volleyball camps next month

COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho College volleyball team is set to host two specialty volleyball camps in January.

On Jan. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Christianson Gym the Cardinals will host a libero camp. The libero camp is open to females ages 12-18. This session will include passing, defense, serving, and setting training.

Coaches for this camp are NIC head coach Miles Kydd, assistant coach Kelsey Stanley, Cardinal defensive specialist Kennedy Chadwick, and 2013 Region 18 Libero of the Year Russia Robinson. Cost of the camp is $25, payable at the door.

Information: www.nicathletics.com/_img/camps/volleyball1102014vrt3ejmb.euv.pdf

On Jan. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Christianson Gym the Cardinals will also host a hitter/setters camp. The hitter/setters camp is open to females ages 12-18.

Coaches for this camp are Kydd and Stanley, along with Cardinal setter Allison Meehan and Russia Robinson. Cost of the camp is $25, payable at the door.

Information: www.nicathletics.com/_img/camps/volleyball1102014mjjd3yad.t2i.pdf

More information: Miles Kydd, 769-3349, or mdkydd@nic.edu