The Wyoming Cowboys continued to struggle in their search for late-season momentum, falling 84-61 to Nevada on Tuesday night at the Lawlor Event Center.
The loss marked Wyoming’s seventh defeat in the past eight games as the team prepares for the Mountain West tournament.
Wyoming (12-17, 5-13 MW) faced difficulties from the outset, shooting just 39.7% from the field and converting only 50% of their free throws (7-for-14). Meanwhile, Nevada (16-12, 8-9 MW) capitalized on its opportunities, shooting 53.1% from the field and an impressive 83.9% (26-for-31) from the free-throw line.
The Cowboys trailed 39-28 at halftime after a cold first half in which they shot just 29.4%. They briefly cut the deficit to six early in the second half, but a decisive 10-0 run by Nevada put the game out of reach. The Wolf Pack later sealed the victory by making nine consecutive field goals, extending their lead to as many as 23 points.
Wyoming’s Kobe Newton led the team with 16 points on 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Obi Agbim contributed 11 points and six assists, while Abou Magassa added eight points and eight rebounds.
Nevada’s Kobe Sanders led all scorers with 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Tyler Rolison added 16 points, while Nick Davidson chipped in 14 points, including nine made free throws.
“Toughness is a talent, and being tough is a choice as well,” Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks said. “We weren’t very physical tonight in the first half. When a team goes 26-for-31 from the free-throw line, and we didn’t foul at the end, that tells me a lot about our level of physicality.”
The Cowboys will return home for their final game at the Arena-Auditorium this season, hosting San Diego State at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
With input from CBS Sports, 7220 Sports, Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
