The Wyoming Cowboys basketball team opened up their season this Tuesday by blowing out the Northern New Mexico College Eagles, earning them an opening night win.
Brendan Wenzel would start out the 2023-2024 season on a high note, cashing in an open three pointer on the Cowboys’ opening possession. The Eagles would answer with a three of their own, but Caden Powell would find his first bucket of the season as well to answer that off a nice feed by Cam Manyawu, who would also hit a free throw for his first point the next trip down the floor.
The Eagles started the game off shooting well, though, as they opened a one point lead at 7-6 before a Sam Griffin and one and three pointer gave the Cowboys a five point lead. The Eagles would hit a three in response, but Manyawu would convert on a nice and one in response but couldn’t hit the free throw. Akuel Kot would also hit his first shots of the night, showing off his craftiness off the dribble with two nice mid range jumpers. Oleg Kojenets would also chip in with a layup of his own, as the Cowboys continued to show off their balanced roster, leading the Eagles 21-12 midway through the first half.
The Eagles would have an answer to the nine point lead, cutting it down to four before Kobe Newton hit his first three of the night and Kot hit two free throws and a tough lay-in to extend the lead up to eleven. Griffin and Kot would continue to show their experience at the guard position, each scoring 11 consecutive points for the Cowboys late into the first half before Wenzel would hit his second three and Nigle Cook would hit his first three to give the Cowboys a 44-26 lead, which would become a 48-34 lead at the half.
Kot would start the scoring for the Cowboys in the second half, lacing his first three of the game. Wenzel would hit his third three of the game the next possession, bringing the lead up to 20. Griffin would also hit a three, making it three straight for the Cowboys to open the second half. After a couple freebies at the line, the Cowboys lead would stretch out to 26. The Cowboys would continue to stretch that lead as Newton would hit an and one three pointer to make it a 70-41 game.
Jacob Theodosiou would hit two free throws for his points of the game to give the Cowboys a 77-47 lead midway through the second half. Griffin and Manyawu would score to continue building on the Cowboys’ big lead late in the second, building the lead all the way to 40. Cort Roberson would come off the bench late and score a nice layup off the dribble and Kael Combs would score his first points of the night to continue to extend the lead as the Cowboys would cruise to a 104-56 victory.
The Cowboys demonstrated their balanced scoring, with five players reaching double figures in the game. Griffin led all scorers in the game with 23 on the night, shooting 8/9 from the field with a perfect 5/5 mark from behind the arc. The Cowboys shot an impressive 13/23 from three as a team. Kot followed closely with 21 points on the night off 6/10 shooting and a perfect 8/8 clip from behind the charity stripe with 6 assists, leading the Cowboys. True freshman Cam Manyawu had a double-double in his first collegiate game with 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with 5 assists. Kojenets had 11 points and Newton had 10 to round out the Cowboys in double figures. The Cowboys shot 62.1% as a team from the field while holding the Eagles to 33.3% and also recorded 38 rebounds, compared to the Eagles 28.
The Cowboys will return to home to compete against their first D-I opponent of the year as Cal Poly makes the trip to Laramie, with the game set to tip off at 7 p.m.
