LARAMIE, Wyo. — What was perhaps supposed to be an easy layup dub against the worst team in the Mountain West became a hard-fought battle for survival in tonight’s 69–62 win for the University of Wyoming against the Air Force Academy. Wyoming’s Obi Agbim had 8 more points than any player on either team.
From jump ball it became readily apparent that conference records can be deceiving. Air Force, 0–15 in conference play, quickly got a handle on the rock and kept it hot, scoring the first 6 points for both teams. All 6 of those points came from Falcon big man Wesley Celichowski, who would eventually lead his team in points with 16.
Wyoming would only get numbers on the points three and a half minutes into game time with a three-pointer from the ever-clutch Obi Agbim off an assist by guard A.J. Wills.
The Falcons wouldn’t let up, though. They would go on another 5–0 run before Wyoming could respond with a free throw point. A Matija Belic layup would cut the Air Force lead to 5 at 11–6. Belic would later go down with an ankle sprain, but would return to finish what he started. He put up 5 points and a block tonight.
Sensing a pattern, the Falcons would then go on another 5–0 run from a layup and a three-pointer.
Besides a single hook shot from Cole Henry, the Pokes’ following 9 points were solely from Dontaie Allen, who had an impressive night in his own right. Anytime Allen would score, though, the Falcons would do the same twice. Allen, Agbim and Henry would score 9 more points before the half after Allen’s solo run and still be 10 behind the Falcons going into the break. At halftime, the Falcons led 38–28.
A Cowboy squad fresh from a halftime break looked a lot more ready to win tonight, though. They’d go on their own 6–0 break to start the half with a rim-bending dunk from Henry and a layup and hook shot from Agbim.
Back-and-forth scoring would keep the Falcon lead within about 6 points for about eight minutes. However, little flashes of panache would begin to shine through, especially starting at the 12-minute mark. Jordan Nesbitt looked hungry; Wills looked like he had something to prove; Henry looked like he wanted to set a career-high — which he did.
Henry would start with a two-pointer. Nesbitt would then get the tip-in followed up by another layup. Agbim came back for two free throws. All of the sudden, Wyoming was on an 8–0 run and tied the game 46–46. Celichowski made a two-point hook shot, but no big deal — Belic is back and he can shoot threes.
Belic’s three would start a 12–0 run to give the Cowboys a 9-point lead. A sloppy lost ball and some missed layups would give the Falcons a chance to climb back to a tie game, but Wyoming made sure they stayed there. The Pokes sealed the game out 69–62 with an Agbim three and successful free throws from Agbim and Wills.
Agbim led the Pokes with 22 points, but Henry’s ascent to dominance really pushed the game in the Pokes’ favor. He had a career-high 16 points, nine rebounds and one assist off some really flashy plays. He was beaten in rebounds only by Nesbitt, who grabbed 10 total on top of two steals. Allen would lead third in points with 12 and five rebounds.
Wyoming will play one more game in the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie before heading back on the road for the penultimate time this season. The Pokes play the San Jose State Spartans this Saturday at 2 p.m. To see the full schedule for the University of Wyoming Cowboys Basketball Team, visit the UW Athletics web page.
