James and McManamen Carry Cowboys Past Lobos
Four Cowboys scored in double figures led by Justin James with 22 points, as Wyoming beat New Mexico 82-71 Saturday in Laramie.
James scored 20 or more points for the eighth time this season. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Jason McManamen finished with 17 points, Hayden Dalton added 11 and Alan Herndon 10.
The Cowboys led by 13, at 62-49, with 10:31 left on an Alexander Aka Gorski three. That lead was trimmed to two with 5:51 left. McManamen scored eight of Wyoming’s next 11 points. James added a three-pointer and a free throw, as UW expanded their lead to 79-69 with 2:05 left. All the while the Pokes defense held New Mexico to only four free throws. Jeremy Lieberman’s three with just under a minute left closed it out.
Wyoming (17-12, 7-9) stopped a three-game losing skid with the win. The Cowboys shot 49 percent in the game, but were 55 percent in the second half. UW went 14-29 from beyond the arc, 48 percent.
New Mexico (16-13, 9-8) was held to 40 percent shooting. They were led by two players off the bench. Connor MacDougall scored 17 points and the seldom-used Anthony Mathis added 13. The Lobos were also 18-of-23 at the foul line.
The Cowboys opened the game on a 9-0 run. The Lobos came back eight straight. They took their first lead at 21-19 on a Jordan Hunter basket with 6:29 left in the first half. Wyoming closed the half on an 11-1 run which included three’s by McManamen, James and Lieberman. UW was ahead 38-31 at half.
The Pokes will prepare for their second game of the Border War series Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Colorado State. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. in Fort Collins.