Cowboys Grind Out Road Win at Air Force, 70-65

Pokes erase nine-point first half deficit 

COLORADO SPRINGS  (Jan. 4, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboys shot a season-high 69 percent from behind the arc and erased a nine-point first half deficit to earn a 70-65 road win at Air Force on Saturday in Clune Arena on the campus of the United State Air Force Academy.

“If you don’t like stress don’t watch us,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. “This is what Air Force does to teams, but understand it is a complex scout and you try to play the percentages. I gave a lot of game balls out tonight and we had some big time plays by nig time players stepping up in big moments.”

Wyoming was led by four players in double figures. Jordan Nesbitt added his sixth double-double of the season.  With 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kobe Newton added 16 points going 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Dontaie Allen added a season-high 14 points going 4-of-4 from behind the arc. Matija Belic added 13 points going 6-of-8 from the field. Cole Henry added eight points and A.J. Wills led all players with five assists.

The Pokes shot 57.1 percent from the field for the seventh game shooting 50 percent or better this season. UW shot a season-high 69 percent from behind the arc going 9-of-13. Air Force shot 56.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from behind the arc. Wyoming held a 25-22 advantage on the glass.

The Pokes got off to a 5-0 lead with a slam from Cole Henry and a three from Newton, but Air Force went on an 11-0 run using the three ball for a 11-5 lead. The Falcons would push that to 14-7 near the 16-minute mark of the opening half.

Air Force hit five threes in the first eight minutes to take a 21-12 lead. Allen hit a pair of threes that made it a 23-18 game for Air Force with 11 minutes left in the half. A thunderous putback slam from Nesbitt and a three from Wills made it a two-point deficit at 27-25 with under nine minutes left in the opening stanza.

Henry tied the game at 27-27 and Belic added an and-one play followed by a triple from Newton for a 33-27 lead with under five minutes left in the first frame. It was part of a 13-0 run for the Pokes holding Air Force scoreless for over five and a half minutes.

Wyoming went scoreless for four and a half minutes to close the first half with the Falcons taking a 36-33 lead into the break. Air Force shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half with the Pokes shooting 56.5.

Air Force knocked down a three to extend their lead to five points at 42-37 in the first two minutes of the second half. Kobe Newton hit a three pointer to make it a two-point game at 44-42 with 16 minutes left.

The Falcons pushed the lead to five points, but a pair of free throws from Newton made it a 50-47 game. Allen added a pair of threes with a Belic basket for an 8-3 run that tied the game at 55-55 with eight minutes left.

Nesbitt added a pair of free throws and gave Wyoming a 58-56 lead with 5:43 left in the game. Wyoming held Air Force without a point for over four minutes and built the lead to 62-56 with just over four minutes left. A nice spinning layup from Henry highlighted the run.

Air Force added a basket to end the 7-0 run for a 62-58 game with 2:52 left in the contest The Falcons would make it a three-point game with under two minutes left. Wills made it a 67-61 game at the line and Nesbitt grabbed his double-double and added a free throw for a 68-61 game with 28 seconds left.

The Falcons were led by Wesley Celichowski with 19 points. Ethan Taylor added 10 points for the Falcons.

Wyoming will host New Mexico on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. in a contest on CBS Sports Network.