At the beginning of February, the Cowboys rolled into Las Vegas to take on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels after an incredible five game stretch the month before where they won four out of their last five, one being an unforgettable comeback victory of Colorado State. The Cowboy would then drop a rough game against the Rebels that would spiral the Cowboys through the month of February, where they’ve since only notched one win all month.
The Cowboys had a big opportunity to avenge that loss and head into March with a victory.
After one half of play, the Cowboys had only scored 19 points and looked to have another blunder of an offensive performance against the Rebels, who the Cowboys were only able to score 48 points on in Las Vegas.
However, the Cowboys were pouring in one of their best halves offensively, holding the Rebels to 23 points in the first half as well.
After a back and forth second half, most of which the Cowboys spent trailing the Rebels, the Cowboys found themselves with an opportunistic possession to win the game at the buzzer in regulation after forcing a massive last second turnover.
Unfortunately the Cowboys weren’t able to find their footing in the overtime period as the Rebels ran away with it in the extra frame, outscoring the Cowboys by six in overtime.
“The effort was outstanding tonight. To be a good team you have to have that effort defensively when you don’t shoot the ball well,” head coach Jeff Linder said postgame.
Both offenses struggled immensely in the early going, as neither team was able to eclipse double-digits before the 10 minute mark in the first half, with things being tied up at eight a piece. The Rebels would be the first to 10 points, as they’d hammer home an offensive rebound. Caden Powell would quickly answer with a lay-in as the Cowboys would reach ten, and both teams would go on a quick spurt trading threes but the Rebels would ultimately claim a 18-13 lead late in the second half.
Kael Combs would drain a three to bring the Cowboys within two and Akuel Kot would cash in his first three to even give the Cowboys a 19-18 lead, but the Rebels would answer that with 5 straight of their own to take a 23-19 lead at the half.
Both teams would come out of the break playing much more efficiently offensively, as the guard tandem of Kot and Sam Griffin would find the bottom of the net for the Cowboys. The Rebels were finding their mark more effectively, though, as they’d take their largest lead of the night at 37-27 before Brendan Wenzel would hit a three to answer. The Rebels would answer that but then the Cowboys would fire off six straight with another Wenzel three and Mason Walters and-one, bringing the game at 39-36 with the lead for the Rebels.
The Rebels wouldn’t let their lead slip, though, as they’d cash in their own three. Walters and Wenzel would continue to score to keep the Cowboys close, but it seemed as if they could never quite close the gap as the Rebels kept hitting big shots to hold onto their lead, extending it back out at 49-42.
The Cowboys would stay in the game but the gap still remained, as they remained within striking distance but the Rebels continued to hit clutch shots late. You can never count the Cowboys out, though, as Combs would come up clutch late, poking the ball away from a UNLV guard and sinking a pair of clutch free throws. The Rebels would even turn the ball over with five seconds remaining on their ensuing possession, but Griffin couldn’t hit his shot at the buzzer to win the game as it entered overtime.
The Rebels would catch fire in overtime, going on a 7-1 run to begin overtime to quickly take a six point advantage. The Cowboys still wouldn’t go away, though, as Cam Manyawu would score and a Wenzel three would somehow rattle in with a minute and half left in overtime. The Rebels would score in the clutch again, though, and hit their free throws late as they’d eventually close the game out and the Cowboys would drop their third straight game.
The Cowboys were led by Wenzel with 20 points, as he’d be followed by Griffin with 13 and Walters with 12. Manyawu led the Cowboys on the glass with 10 rebounds, as he also led the Cowboys with four assists and the same number of steals.
A lot of the Cowboys’ defensive success on the night could be attributed to the freshman duo of Manyawu and Combs, as they both combined for two blocks and six steals on the night.
“Both those guys have instincts you can’t teach in terms of basketball like stealing the ball and going after 50/50 balls. Give Kael credit for getting up there and hitting big free throws,” Linder said of the play from Combs and Manyawu.
The Cowboys were heavily outmanned on the glass, being outrebounded by 12 in the game. The Cowboys also struggled from deep, making only 28.6% of their three point attempts.
The Cowboys hit the road for the second border war of the season against Colorado State, the game set to tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
