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Cowboys Play Complete Game in 63-61 Win at UNLV

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from John Durgee (UW AthMarketing)
By
Nick Seeman, Assistant Athletic Director, Communications University of Wyoming Athletics

First win in a conference game at UNLV since 2003

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Jan. 21, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboys played their most complete game this season knocking down 14 threes, tying a season-high and recording 18 assists on 22 made baskets in a 63-61 win over one of the league’s hottest teams in UNLV in the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday evening. It marked the first win for the Cowboys in a conference game against UNLV in the arena since Feb. 1, 2003. The Cowboys move to 10-9 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

“The guys were locked in tonight,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. “That is what it takes to give a special effort like we did tonight, to win in a place we haven’t in 22 years. I told our guys it takes special efforts, special days, and special ways. This was a great game to share the basketball and we did that tonight. We just had monumental efforts from numerous guys tonight. We are not an easy out and I know it isn’t perfect, but we are going to be a tough out down the stretch.”

The Pokes shot 50 percent from behind the arc in the contest for the fifth game this season shooting 50 percent or better from the three-point line. Wyoming shot 45.8 percent from the field and held the Runnin’ Rebels to 39.7 percent for the eighth game holding an opponent under 40 percent. Wyoming held a 37-30 advantage on the glass for the night.

Wyoming was led in scoring by Obi Agbim with 19 points, as he went 5-of-9 from behind the arc. He has scored in double-figures in every game he has played this season. Jordan Nesbitt added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. It was his seventh of the season, as he added a season-high six assists. Matija Belic added nine points and five rebounds and a season-high four assists.

Wyoming would hold UNLV scoreless for the first two and a half minutes and earned a bucket from deep from Agbim. Wyoming struggled from the floor but held UNLV in check for a 3-2 lead five minutes into the frame, as the teams went a combined 2-of-12 from the field.

Belic gave the Pokes a 6-2 lead on great ball movement and later added another for a 9-5 lead with under 13 minutes left in the first frame. UNLV tied the game and a triple from Kobe Newton made it a 12-9 game at the 11:18 mark.

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The Cowboys would push the lead to five points at 16-11 with a slam from Oleg Kojenets, but UNLV went on a 11-2 run for a 22-18 lead over the Pokes with four minutes left in the half. But Wyoming responded with a Nesbitt three pointer and a fast break slam from Agbim for a 23-22 lead.

Wyoming would take a 25-24 lead into the break holding the Runnin’ Rebels to 31 percent from the first frame.

After the teams traded three pointers to open the second half, UNLV went on a 5-0 run to take a 32-28 lead two minutes into the stanza. Allen later made it a one-point game with a three-pointer for a 34-33 contest.

A quick 5-0 run fueled by Cole Henry gave Wyoming a 38-36 lead with 14 minutes left. He added a layup and found Agbim for a three-pointer on the run. The Pokes held UNLV scoreless for over four minutes to take a 43-39 lead with under nine minutes left.

Nesbitt and Agbim added triples and the Cowboys built a 49-43 lead with just over seven minutes left. It got Wyoming to double-digit threes for the night. Agbim added another three for a 52-43 lead. Nesbitt made it a 10-point game and got the double-double with four minutes left.

After a brief run by UNLV, Kobe Newton would hit a corner three as the shot clock expired to give Wyoming a 60-49 lead with 2:36 left. But the Runnin’ Rebels would not go away making it a 63-57 game with under 30 seconds left.

UNLV would make it even closer forcing turnovers and making it a 63-61 game with eight seconds left. UNLV had a chance to at the end to tie the game after a missed free throw, but it came short as UW took the contest and got their tenth win of the season.

The Runnin’ Rebels were led by Dedan Thomas Jr. with 17 points. Jaden Henley added 15 points on the night.

Wyoming continues their road swing with a trip to San Jose State on Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. start on the Mountain West Network.

 

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