John Luke Fabian
Jfabian1@uwyo.edu
Twitter: @HouseFabian
Even with senior Josh Adams in the lineup this time around, the Pokes could not get the win in Taco Bell Arena. For the second time this season, the Wyoming Cowboys fell short to the Boise State Broncos 94-71.
“[Boise State] did look like the veteran team,” Shyatt told the Casper Star Tribune. “It appeared almost defensively those last [six] minutes that we were playing on roller skates. They could do whatever they wanted offensively.”
In the beginning, the Pokes looked like they were going to make it a game. With 8:16 left in the first half Adams made a free throw that closed the gap down to 18-15. UW was getting to the line, making shots and getting some stops.
Then the Broncos quickly built themselves an 11-point lead, after the Cowboys missed four of their next five shots. The Cowboys started to make some shots again, and dwindled down the Bronco lead to eight points at the half.
Sophomore Hayden Dalton came off the bench and was able to give to the Cowboys a much-needed spark. He had 10 points off of 3-4 shooting and also had three rebounds. Unfortunately, he landed on his ankle the wrong way and could not play in the second half.
“I don’t think it’s long-term, but he did hit it pretty hard. He could not give it a shot the second half,” Shyatt told the Casper Star Tribune.
For the first eight minutes of the second half UW was able to make it three-point game, two different times. Wyoming could not take a hold of the lead, though. Boise State began to force UW into turnovers, and turn those into 11 points. Wyoming could not keep up and found themselves with their 14th loss of the season.
“I told them in the locker room I take total responsibility for this,” Shyatt told the Casper Star Tribune. “Ninety-four points, a (poor) second half and we didn’t look like we defensively were prepared for this veteran team those last eight minutes.”
Adams finished the game with 16 points and six assists. Sophomore Alexander Aka Gorski came off the bench and was able to knock down three 3-pointers and five free-throws for a total of 14 points.
The Broncos had 22 more points in the paint, eight more points off of turnovers and eight second chance points compared to the Cowboys. All in all not the best game for a Larry Shyatt coached team.
“They had a bunch of shooters and I guess we were almost too worried about shooters to where we gave up easy
buckets and layups,” Aka Gorski told the Casper Star Tribune.
Wyoming will return to Laramie on Wednesday to play the Fresno State Bulldogs. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
