Cowboys Drop Wild Contest at San Diego State, 63-61

Pokes led by as much as nine points in the second half

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboys held the San Diego State Aztecs without a basket for five minutes in the second half, but the Cowboys could not hold on down the stretch in a 63-61 loss in Viejas Arena on Saturday evening. SDSU went on a 20-0 run in the final six minutes, but the Pokes closed on a 11-2 run in the closing 10 seconds to trail by as little as one in one of the wilder finishes in Cowboy basketball history.

“It is all about little margins, but I couldn’t be prouder of our Pokes’ effort tonight, the game plan was executed, and you could see them frustrated and a lot of good things from our guys,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. “My message in the locker room was we play up to our competition, but I’d like to see that in other games, so I want to see some consistency. I think the pressure got to our guys late. We played fearless and physical, and it was time to come in here and show that.”

The Pokes shot 36.5 percent on the night and were 30.8 percent from behind the arc with eight makes. The Cowboys held the Aztecs to 36.7 percent from the field and allowed only five threes. San Diego State was 22-of-28 from the line and won the battle on the boards 36-32

Wyoming was led by Dontaie Allen with 18 points on the night for a season high. He knocked down four threes on the night. Jordan Nesbitt added nine points but had foul trouble throughout the contest. Oleg Kojenets added six points and six rebounds. Obi Agbim added six assists to lead the team and scored 12 points with eight points in the final 10 seconds to get to double-figures

The Pokes got on the board first with a layup from Nesbitt, but SDSU went on a 5-2 run. The teams would trade baskets over the next couple of minutes with Wyoming taking a 9-8 lead on a Kobe Newton layup near the 12-minute mark.

Wyoming went scoreless for over three minutes with the Aztecs going with eight-straight points for a 18-12 lead with under 10 minutes left in the half. Nesbitt added a triple and a layup for a 5-0 run himself to give the Pokes a 21-20 lead with six minutes left in the opening frame.

The Cowboys would then go on another scoring drought of over three minutes with the Aztecs taking a 24-23 lead, but Nesbitt halted the run and gave the Pokes a 25-24 lead. Wyoming held SDSU scoreless for over three minutes, but the Aztecs closed the half with a bucket and a pair of free throws to take a 28-25 lead into the half.

Wyoming opened the half tying the contest at 28-28 with an Allen triple. But the Aztecs answered with a pair of threes themselves for a 34-28 lead. Wyoming made it a 34-33 game with a pair of free throws from Kojenets and a three from Allen. The Pokes took a 35-34 lead at the line with freebies from Newton with 13:34 left. A slam from Scottie Ebube pushed the lead to three points holding the Aztecs scoreless for over four minutes.

Allen added a and-one play to give the Pokes a 40-36 lead with 12 minutes left. The Cowboys pushed the lead to six points on another Allen triple with 8:40 left in the game. Kojenets added a bunny for a 47-39 lead with under eight minutes left.

Allen added another triple for a 50-41 contest, as Wyoming made four-straight shots with six minutes left. The Aztecs used the free throw line and a bucket to take a 51-50 lead with just over four minutes left in the contest. It ended in a with SDSU owning a double-digit lead, but Agbim added five free throws with three from a foul and two technical for a 61-55 lead for SDSU with 10 seconds left.

The Pokes added three more after the technical on free throws from Allen for a 61-58 game with eight seconds left. SDSU added a free throw, but Agbim added a triple for a 62-61 game, but a free throw gave SDSU the 63-62                                                                                                                                 

The Aztecs were led by Magoon Gwath with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Boyd added 13 points.

Wyoming opens a two-game homestand on Tuesday against Utah State at 6:30 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium in a game on the Mountain West Network.