The Wyoming Cowboys lost a close game against the Saint Louis Billikens in the quarterfinals Myrtle Beach Invitational. The Cowboys struggled against the defensive pressure brought by the Billikens and shot extremely poor from beyond the arc in the loss to the Billikens.
Caden Powell would open up the scoring for the Cowboys in Myrtle Beach, as he would scoop up his own missed shot and put it back in for two. The Billikens would have the answer to that, but seemingly had none for the scoring capabilities of Sam Griffin, who would show off his scoring ability by going on his own 8-0 run broken by his teammate Oleg Kojenets, who would score off a nice spin move and would rock the rim with a huge dunk off a nice feed from Akuel Kot to give the Cowboys an early 14-4 lead.
The Billikens would break the Cowboy 10-0 run with a small 4-0 run before Kot would score his first points off a smooth pull-up jumper and Kojenets would score off a lob from Griffin. The pesky Billikens would answer again, netting the first three of the game for either team. Kot would hit the first triple for the Cowboys soon after though and Cam Manyawu, who found himself in foul trouble early in the first half would come back into the game and snag an offensive rebound and score, as the Cowboys would hold onto a 23-20 lead midway through the first half as the Billikens would begin to find their groove on offense, quickly making it a one point game before Brendan Wenzel would knock down two foul shots for his first points and Manyawu would score again off a nice feed from Griffin. It would be all Billikens from that point though, as they’d go on a 9-0 run to take a 31-27 lead before Griffin would take it to the basket to stop the bleeding and Kot would knock down his second triple of the game to keep the Cowboys close. Powell would score for the first time since he scored the opening basket of the game, as his and-one lay-in would give the Cowboys a 35-34 lead at the half.
Turnovers proved to be a problem in the first half, as the Cowboys recorded 12 turnovers in the first half alone. Luckily, the Billikens were only able to convert those 12 turnovers to 7 points. The Cowboys also held a massive advantage in the paint in the first half, as they doubled up the Billikens in points in the paint, scoring 24 points in the paint compared to the Billikens 12.
The Billikens would strike first out of the break, but Manyawu would come out with an immediate answer in the point. Powell would pick up where he left off and finish off another three point play down low but the Billikens were shooting well to open the half, knocking down two threes to take their own four point lead early in the second half. The Cowboys continued to be their own undoing, as the turnovers continued to pile up for them as the Billikens would take their biggest lead of the game at 51-42.
Manyawu would do his best to keep the Cowboys in it on the offensive glass, as he’d score again off an offensive rebound. Griffin would finally knock down his first three pointer of the contest, Powell would power his way to another and-one basket and Kot would get going with a fade away jumper in the lane as the Cowboys would will themselves back within 3 at 55-52 midway through the second. The Billikens wouldn’t let go of their lead, though, as they’d push the lead back up to 9. The Cowboys woes would continue from beyond the arc as the Billikens lead would remain 9 at 67-58 with five minutes left in the game.
The Cowboys wouldn’t go away as both Powell and Manyawu would earn trips to the line to make it a 69-63 game before the Billikens would hit a huge three to bring it back to nine late. Manyawu and Powell would continue to fight on the glass as their efforts would continue to keep the Cowboys in the game late as the lead would be 72-67 for the Billikens with two and a half minutes left in the game. Turnovers late and a huge three by the Billikens would bury the Cowboys at the end of the game, as they would fall to the Billikens 79-69.
The Cowboys did not shoot well against the Billikens defense, as they were 35.2% from the field and an ugly 14.3% from three while the Billikens shot 47.4% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The Cowboys also coughed up 19 turnovers on the game while only dishing out 10 assists as a team but the Cowboys did shoot 94.1% from the free throw line.
The Cowboys were led by four players in double figures, led by Powell with 17 which was a career high for Powell. Freshman Manyawu continues to impress in his first year, recording another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Cowboys on the glass as well. The Cowboy backcourt of Griffin and Kot had 15 and 10 respectively. Wenzel struggled shooting in the contest, not making a single field goal in seven tries but he did make all six of his free throw attempts.
The Cowboys return to action on Friday in a contest versus the College of Charleston, who lost their Myrtle Beach quarterfinal matchup against Vermont.
