Danielle Server
February 15, 2019- The 6-19 Wyoming Cowboys took on their border enemy, the 17-8 Colorado State Rams, in a much-anticipated game on Saturday, February 15. The home crowd brought much-needed energy to the game, but the Cowboys failed to finish out the game after losing to the Rams 77-70 in a foul heavy match.
The Rams have proven themselves in the past to be a tough opponent, edging out the Cowboys in their first matchup win of the season 72-61. Although both teams struggle behind the three, the Rams lead the Cowboys in points per game by 76.3% with two games resulting in triple-digit scores.
The first half was a tight contest between the two teams as the Cowboys continued to struggle with finding the basket, going 5 for 16 halfway through the first half. Taylor led the Cowboys early on with five points but got into foul trouble early with two. Branden Porter took over with back to back threes with eight minutes, while Freshman Kwan Marbles III, backed the cowboys up with five rebounds.
Both teams pressed each other to find the basketball went 0-6 behind the three combined in the first six minutes of the game. The last time the Cowboys went against the Rams, they were able to hold the Rams to a 22 percent average behind the three. The rest of the first half continued to prove the Cowboys three-point defense, keeping the Rams at 9 percent behind the three with only one successful shot. Wyoming also led in steals with thirteen in just the first half.
“I thought our guys came in ready to play.” said Coach Edwards in the post-conference game, “ We did a great job defending the three-point line.”
However, the Rams enjoyed a 12-23 advantage behind the line in the first half. The Cowboys found themselves in foul trouble often throughout the whole game. Fornstrom felt the brunt of it with four personal fouls before the half.
Wyoming had a hard time rebounding against the Rams with 13 rebounds in the first half, a comparative number to CSU’s 29, an issue they had in their game against New Mexico the week before. The offense, however, pulled ahead of the Rams by eight points before the half with a buzzer-beater basket in the paint made by Freshman Kenny Foster.
The Cowboys entered the second half strong as Senior guard Jake Hendricks nailed back to back three-pointers along with three rebounds from Hendricks and Marbles within five minutes of the game. Maldonado also assisted the Cowboys by pulling off his 24th straight double-digit game of the season accompanied with five assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
The Rams drew closer to the Cowboys silently as they persisted with their rebounding abilities and the Cowboys foul trouble. Despite their low percentage behind the three, the Rams took to the paint to bring the score to seven points at 8:30 to go in the second half. Their persistence helped them in the long run.
Marbles left the game with 1:12 to go after fouling out on a three-point attempt made by the Rams Adam Thistlewood. The foul helped the Rams draw within one point after the Cowboys led by double-digit at the beginning of the second half. A three-pointer by the Rams gave them the lead with 33.8 seconds to go.
Two fouls made by Maldando sealed the Cowboys fate, the Cowboys would go down after leading for most of the game. The Rams finished out the game, with 65 percent behind the line.
“We didn’t get the stops we needed to get,” said Maldonado, “And I think our passing accuracy hurts us. Again we need to take it as an opportunity to grow. We are not the same team as when we first started, and that’s why I think half of us are frustrated. It’s time to grow, time to get better, and attack the next game harder and harder.”
Despite their thirteenth conference loss of the season, the Cowboys finished the game with four players reaching double digits, including Marbles in his seventh-straight game.
“We will find ways to continue to fight.” said Edwards, “We come with the right attitude, and they are showing growth and maturity as a young team.”
The Cowboys will face Utah State next on Wednesday, February 19. They will return to Laramie for their final home game on February 29.
