Wyoming got off to a fast start but was not able to keep pace with Colorado State down the stretch as they fell 82-67 on Saturday night in Ft. Collins, Colo.
It was the Cowboys’ first game without junior forward Larry Nance Jr., who leads the team in points and rebounds. His loss was felt on the glass as Wyoming was out rebounded 37-21, 13-2 on offense.
Colorado State started off the second half red hot from the field. They hit six of their first seven shots to open up a eight point lead at 44-36 with 15:41 to play.
With 9:45 to play the Rams opened up an 18 point lead, their largest of the game, 59-41. This marked Wyoming’s largest deficit of the season, previously they trailed by 15 at Ohio State and at Air Force.
Wyoming was able to cut the lead to 11 with 2:58 to play on a three from senior guard Nathan Sobey. But Colorado State answered with four straight free throws to increase their lead back to 15 and put the game on ice.
Colorado State ended up shooting 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from three point range and 75 percent from the free throw line. Wyoming shot 50 percent from the field, 59 percent from downtown and 68 percent from the line.
The difference in the game occurred on the glass as Colorado State out rebounded Wyoming 37-21, 13-2 on the offensive glass, which led to the Rams taking 17 more shots than the Cowboys.
The Rams were led by junior guard Jon Octeus who had 23 points. Junior guard Daniel Bejarano was one point away from a triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
The Cowboys were led Nathan Sobey with 15 points. Sophomore guard Josh Adams chipped in with 11 points. Junior guard Riley Grabau and junior forward Derek Cooke Jr. had 9 points a piece.
Wyoming owned a seven point lead, 18-11 at the 13:00 minute mark in the first half on a Nathen Sobey dunk. The two teams went into halftime tied at 31.
Colorado State’s 82 points was the most given up by Wyoming this year. The previous high was 72 points scored by New Mexico in overtime in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Wyoming will next come home and play Air Force on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Arena Auditorium.
“I am hopeful that there will be great energy in the A-A on Tuesday,” said head coach Larry Shyatt in his weekly teleconference. “But the team also needs to create their own energy.”
