Students storm the court after the 76-69 Cowboy win against CU.
Playing a tough game against No. 19 Colorado, the Cowboys basketball team remained undefeated as it took a 76-69 victory Saturday. Now with an overall record of 8-0, the Cowboys continue their longest streak since 1987-88.
Fans piled in the Arena Auditorium, filling the stands with 8,240 people, which the UW Athletics Department deemed the largest crowd in the Double A since 2005. The first half of the event seemed discouraging as the teams tied seven times and had eight lead changes. Though the Cowboys were never down by more than three points, they did find themselves lagging behind for a majority of the first half. However, the team brought out its A game in the second half as it went on a 9-2 run in the final minutes of the game.
“I thought our players’ will and passion were unmatched tonight,” Wyoming head coach Larry Shyatt said. “We did a tremendous job defensively the second half. We really bent down and guarded. We took a bundle of charges.”
Although senior forward Leonard Washington experienced some difficulty landing shots in the first half, his effort and talent really shined as he pushed himself and his team to take charge in the second half. He posted a season high in the game with a total of 22 points. According to other reports from the Athletics Department, he also added seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals to go with no turnovers.
“I told Leonard at halftime I was very proud of the way he came back after missing that one free throw,” Shyatt said. “He drew a charge, rebounded and did a number of things that don’t show up in the stats. He has always been willing to put his body in harm’s way — all last year and this year.”
Another player who excelled, sophomore forward Larry Nance Jr., was reported to have posted a career-high consisting of 14 points and seven rebounds. Nance’s performance is promising as his career at UW could take him farther than collegiate competition.
Athletic reports show that senior guard Luke Martinez scored 13 points but failed to make a three, breaking his streak of 36 games with at least one. Senior guard Derrious Gilmore and freshman guard Josh Adams also added 12 points each to the game’s final score.
Hoping to continue their winning streak, the Pokes find themselves hitting the road to continue their season Tuesday in Normal, Ill., against Illinois State. The game for Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge is set to begin at 6 p.m.
