Cowboys Dominate Bellarmine from Start to Finish in 92-55 Win

Pokes shoot 65.5 percent from field

LARAMIE, Wyo.  (Dec. 19, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys returned to the friendly confines of the Arena-Auditorium on Thursday and responded with a 92-55 rout of Bellarmine. Wyoming shot 65.5 percent from the field and hit a season-high 14 threes moving to 5-0 at home on the season.

Wyoming shot 75.9 percent from the field in the first half for the best in a half since shooting 84.2 percent in the second half against Northern Colorado on Dec. 22, 2013. It was the best in the first half since shooting 77.8 percent against Tennessee State on Dec. 17, 2003.

“I thought the mentality tonight was right and the guys came out with an edge and a chip,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. “Tonight, we saw good process and good results and that is what you want, and you have to fight for those things. This group was reliant enough to come back and hammer away at the process. We had great preparation and that is what drives winning.”

Wyoming’s 65.5 percent from the field was the first shooting over 60 percent since the season opener last season against Northern New Mexico. The Pokes shot 50 percent from behind the arc for a season-best and have double-digit threes twice this season. Bellarmine shot 38.8 percent from the field and were held to five threes as they averaged over 10 per game. Wyoming held a 34-17 advantage on the glass.

The Pokes were led by Obi Agbim with a season-high 28 points. He was 10-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from behind the arc. He also added five boards and five assists. A.J. Wills added 13 points and a career-high seven assists. Matija Belic made his first start with the Cowboys and added a season-high 12 points going 6-of-9 from the field. Cole Henry and Touko Tainamo added 11 points. Abou Magassa led the team and tied a career-high with nine rebounds.

Belic got the Cowboys off to a good start with a pair of buckets and assist to give Wyoming a 6-2 lead early in the first half. Wyoming went on an 13-0 run over three and a half minutes highlighted by a trio of three pointers for a 19-4 lead seven minutes into the contest.

Wyoming went on a 7-0 run with five points from Tainamo for a 26-7 advantage with 11 minutes left in the first half. Wyoming pushed the lead to as much as 25 points with a trio of Agbim threes for a 51-15 game with under six minutes left in the half.

A fast break slam from Agbim and a Jordan Nesbitt triple followed by and and-one play from Henry made it a 52-23 game with under two minutes left in the first frame. The Pokes took a 52-28 lead into the half shooting 75 percent from the field. 

Agbim knocked down his fourth triple of the game to give Wyoming a 61-34 lead in the early goings of the second half. The Pokes pushed the lead to 30 points at 66-36 with under 14 minutes left on a A.J. Wills jumper.

He capped a 10-0 run for a 71-36 lead as he would get to double-figures for the second time this season. Tainamo also got to double-figures during the run for the Cowboys.

Wyoming went scoreless for over two minutes with Bellarmine making it a 74-47 contest with under 10 minutes left. Agbim hit his seven three to stop the run for the Knights. He tied his season-high with the bucket.

The Pokes went on an 8-0 run that was capped by a and-one play from Magassa for an 82-47 lead. After Wyoming built the lead to 40 points the Knights went on a run, but Bellarmine did not score in the final three-plus minute with the Pokes taking the game 92-55.

The Knights were led by Kenyan Goodin with 13 points on the night.

The Cowboys closeout non-conference action on Sunday with a trip to Cal State Fullerton for a 3 p.m. MT start on ESPN+.