Missing one of their starters, the Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball team lost to San Diego State on Wednesday by a score of 67-41. Senior forward Larry Nance Jr. sat out for his second straight game due to mononucleosis.
“My thoughts are a lot of disappointment, most of all self-reflecting. Our team didn’t play well right off the get go. SDSU has been struggling from three and they hit four big ones off the bat. I am the responsible party and I would never put that on the players,” head coach Larry Shyatt said.
San Diego State began the game on a 13-3 run before coach Shyatt had to call a timeout after 4:03 of play. The Aztecs were 4-6 from three point range to start the game. Wyoming was 1-4 from the field and committed two turnovers in that four minute stretch. Coming out of the timeout San Diego State was only able to extend their lead to 21-5 before the next media timeout. Things only got worse for the Pokes as San Diego State was able to take 36-14 lead into the half.
Senior forward Derek Cooke was 3-3 shooting from the field and had seven points in the first half. Junior guard Josh Adams also had seven points in the first half along with three rebounds. The Aztecs were shooting 44.8 percent and 60 percent from the three-point arc. Wyoming was shooting 30 percent and 9.1 percent from three. The Cowboys committed nine turnovers in the half, compared to the three that San Diego State had.
The second half was more of the same as the first. The Pokes were able to shoot 9.3 percent better in the second half, but it still was not enough. The closest Wyoming was able to cut the lead to 21 points. The Aztecs won the game with a score of 67-41. Wyoming got out rebounded by San Diego State 37-26, and the Pokes committed five more turnovers than them. The Aztecs 10 three-point shot is tied for the most Wyoming has allowed an opponent to hit this season. The Cowboys shot their lowest rate from three point range this season with 11.5 percent.
Derek Cooke led the team in points and rebounds with 13 and 6. Adams added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists in the loss. No other Poke had more than five points in the game.
Before the game, Wyoming was tied for first place in the Mountain West with San Diego State. After the loss, Wyoming fell all the way to fourth place in the Mountain West. The Cowboys are currently 19-6 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
The Pokes will be back in action in Laramie on Valentine’s Day to face off against San Jose State. The game will be in the Dome of Doom and will begin at 4 p.m.
