LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Cowboys met the Utah State University Aggies for the second time this season and again lost in a similar fashion — by the difference of only a point compared to last time. With this 71–67 loss, the Cowboys are now back under .500 with an 11–12 record.
Despite the loss, the Pokes displayed an impressive defensive performance, especially with keeping the Aggies limited on 3-point opportunities. The team leading the conference in threes made per game was kept to just three 3-pointers through the night.
Without star player and leading scorer Obi Agbim, the Pokes also managed to keep up with the tough force from Utah offensively and even managed to carve out a lead a few times.
Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks also commended his team for its defensive performance, but made it clear he also expects more.
“Who we are is yet to be determined, but I know this: If we double down on our competitiveness, connection and commitment to the team we are starting to become on the defensive side of the ball, the identity is starting to form,” Wicks told UW Athletics.
In Agbim’s absence, the boys from Wyoming stepped up. Jordan Nesbitt, who has shown some incredible versatility on both ends of the ball this season, led the way with 11 points and seven rebounds. He was helped by Dontaie Allen with 10 points and Kobe Newton and A.J. Wills with 6 points each.
Wills started in place of Agbim, getting some serious minutes not yet seen by the sophomore from Virginia.
As is the usual in the world of college basketball, this was a game of runs. Utah State would gain momentum first with a 7–0 run a quarter through the game’s first half and would rocket to a 13–6 lead. It was mostly with the help of center Scottie Ebube, who will always find a breakaway dunk, that UW took back the lead slowly but surely to 19–18.
The Cowboys would get the next chance at a run and would make four straight shots before an Aggie buzzer-beater to make it a 35–30 game in the Pokes’ favor at halftime.
Utah State seemed more ready to resume the game than the Cowboys did, as the Aggies would immediately go on a 15–2 run to start the second half. Before the Cowboys could get their heads back into the game, five minutes had disappeared and the Aggies were up 45–37.
Newton and forward Touko Tainamo would then drag the Pokes back into the game with a 7–0 run. Then Utah State went on a 7–0 run. And then Wyoming went on a 7–0 run again.
The call-and-response would end shortly thereafter, though. The Cowboys would go completely cold for four minutes and, despite trying to get back up with a short-lived 5–0 run, had to slowly bleed out time with fouls until their eventual demise.
Wyoming shot 45.3% from the field to Utah State’s 40.7%. The Cowboys would also score three more 3-pointers than the Aggies tonight.
Before hitting the road again, the Pokes will host another game in the Arena-Auditorium this Saturday at 2 p.m. This time, the Cowboys will play the UNLV Rebels, whom they beat for the first time on the road since 2003 just a few short weeks ago. For more information on the team’s schedule, visit its page on the UW Athletics website.
