The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team beat Grambling State 86 – 78 this past Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Arena Auditorium in Laramie.
The Cowboys were led by senior Justin James who had 23 points and went 13 – 13 on free throws. He was followed by sophomore Hunter Maldonado and freshmen TJ Taylor, both of whom had 21 points. Taylor’s 21 points was the most scored by a freshman since Desmar Jackson scored 31 points at Utah in 2010.
“I just wanted to do what coach needed me to do,” TJ Taylor said. “I was just playing my game.”
Taylor went 6 – 9 from the field and 3 – 4 from three. This was his second collegiate game ever.
“The reason why this team and the coach likes him (TJ Taylor) is because he makes the best play for the Pokes,” Justin James said. “He doesn’t try to go for home-runs. He just makes the right plays, well most of the time.”
Overall the Cowboys shooting has improved, going 25 – 60 from the field and 9 – 24 from three. As opposed to the Tigers, who went 28 – 57 from the field and 8 – 16 from three.
“I’m happy, obviously, to come out with a win,” head coach Allen Edwards said. “I thought we had a really good first half of executing the game plan. And even at halftime I told them not to get so caught up in the score, it was only a 10-point game.”
The Cowboys put up 52 points in the first half, whereas the Tigers were only able to get 42. The Cowboys had a 50% shooting average from the field and from three in the first half.
“Just knowing that we have a lot of new bodies, I understand the mentality from a high school basketball game when the score can start looking like it’s getting out hand it becomes fun time. And I thought we fell into that,” coach Edwards said.
Coach Edwards remarks are backed by the statistics. In the second half the Cowboys had a 33% shooting average from the field and a 20% shooting average from three. The Tigers had around a 45% shooting average for both.
“I credit Grambling State because down to even the last seconds they continued to fight, continued to play hard,” coach Edwards said.
The Cowboys will take on Niagara University next this Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. MST at the Arena Auditorium in Laramie.
