Wyoming Cowboys Avoid Sting in 79-65 Victory

Five Wyoming Cowboys scored in double figures, and the Pokes held off a pesky Black Hills State Yellow Jacket squad 79-65 Monday night at the Arena-Auditorium. Larry Nance, Jr. led the way with 16 points and 7 rebounds. He scored 8 straight points to help UW pull away late.

Wyoming (6-2) led 61-55 when Josh Adams connected on a 3-pointer. Nance then scored the next 8 for UW, before a Jerron Granberry lay-up made it 74-62 with 3:35 left. The Yellow Jackets failed to rally after that.

Black Hill State opened the second half on an 8-0 run and took their first lead of the game at 37-36. A Riley Grabau 3-pointer gave the Pokes the lead back. After a tie at 39, four straight points from Adams put UW ahead 43-39, and they never trailed after that.

The teams traded baskets over the next five minutes before Wyoming got a little separation. Over the next seven minutes the Pokes out-scored the Yellow Jackets 18-10, which included the spurt from Nance.

After Nance, Adams added 15 points and 6 assists, which tied his career high. Nathan Sobey scored 12, while Riley Grabau and Derek Cooke, Jr. chipped in 11 points apiece. Wyoming shot 60.8 percent (31-51) from the field, were 6-15 (40%) from 3-point range and 11-16 (68.8%) at the line. They out-rebounded Black Hills State 36-27, but did have 12 turnovers.

The Yellow Jackets hit 38.1 percent (24-63) on field goals. They shot 7-26 (26.9%) from deep and were 10-11 (90.9%) at the stripe. They were led by Myles Henry with 13 points. Former Wyoming prep standouts Tommy Earl (Natrona) and Riley Ryan (Sheridan) added 10 and 9 points, respectively. Black Hills State scored 14 points off UW turnovers and also had 14 second chance points.

The Cowboys got off to a sluggish start, but managed an 11-point lead, at 33-22, with 2:16 left in the first half. Black Hills State hung around, and UW held only a 36-29 advantage at the break.

Wyoming returns to action Saturday when they face the South Dakota Coyotes for the second time this season. The Pokes won the first meeting on November 22, 70-53, in Laramie. This game will be a neutral site game in Rapid City, South Dakota. The game is set for a 7:15 p.m. start.