The Wyoming Cowboys struggled from start to finish in an 88-53 loss to Colorado State on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive defeat.
From the opening tip, the Rams took control, leaving little doubt about the outcome in the latest edition of the Border War.
Colorado State dominated early, going on a 9-0 run to open the game. After Wyoming finally got on the board, the Rams responded with another 9-0 run, quickly extending their lead to 18-3. By the midway point of the first half, CSU had built a 29-6 advantage, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Wyoming struggled offensively, hitting just two of its first 16 shots and finishing the half 8-for-27 (30%) from the field. Meanwhile, the Rams shot 58% in the opening period and carried a 44-19 lead into halftime.
CSU never let up in the second half, adding another 44 points and shooting an impressive 60.7% from the field overall. The Rams connected on 14 three-pointers, hitting 58.3% from beyond the arc.
Head coach Sundance Wicks didn’t hold back when reflecting on his team’s performance.
“I don’t recognize that team,” Wicks said postgame. “I’m not sure who those guys were who showed up to play tonight, but that wasn’t the Wyoming Cowboys.”
The lackluster defensive effort was a major concern for Wicks.
“We were not prepared for a war. We were prepared for a tea party,” he added.
Senior guards Obi Agbim and Dontaie Allen were the lone bright spots for Wyoming, leading the team with 15 points each. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome CSU’s balanced attack.
Colorado State (16-9, 10-4 Mountain West) showcased its depth and efficiency, with ten different players scoring.
- Nique Clifford led the way with 22 points on 8-for-9 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and five assists, recording his 12th double-double of the season.
- Kyan Evans added 15 points and four assists.
- Jaylen Crocker-Johnson contributed 11 points and six rebounds.
- Ethan Morton was a key facilitator, tallying eight points, seven assists, and three rebounds.
CSU head coach Niko Medved praised his team’s early defensive effort.
“I thought our defense in the first 10 minutes of the game was the catalyst,” Medved said. “We got out with the lead early and never looked back.”
The 35-point win tied CSU’s record for its largest margin of victory over Wyoming in the history of the rivalry.
Wyoming (11-15, 4-11 MW) now returns home for a two-game homestand, starting with Air Force on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
While the Cowboys have exceeded expectations in Wicks’ first season, their youth and inconsistency have been evident throughout the year. With five games remaining in the regular season, Wyoming is unlikely to climb significantly in the Mountain West standings, currently sitting ninth in the conference.
Barring a late-season turnaround, the Cowboys appear destined for a No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup in the Mountain West Tournament, likely facing San Jose State, with the winner set to take on top-seeded New Mexico.
With input from Bigfoot99 Radio, Coloradoan, and SB Nation.
