Seniors Power Cowboys in Win Over Air Force, 74-63

* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE -- The senior trio of Sam Griffin, Akuel Kot and Brendan Wenzel combined for 58 points to lead the Cowboys to a 74-63 win over Air Force in the Arena-Auditorium on Tuesday evening.

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Wyoming held the Falcons scoreless for over six minutes to open the second half.

"You always want to win on senior night and in some of those game you get off to slow starts," UW head coach Jeff Linder said. "Our energy in the second half was terrific. That first seven minutes in the second half set the tone. Down the stretch we held them off and Akuel Kot made some big shots and had some big assists and for Brendan Wenzel to make those dagger threes on senior night was great to see. Overall, just a great win and happy for our guys."

The Pokes were led in scoring by Brendan Wenzel with 20 points for his fifth 20-point scoring game of the season. He also added six rebounds. Sam Griffin added 19 points for his 25th game in double figures. He also went over 2,000 career points in the contest. Akuel Kot added 19 points all coming in the second half for his 23rd game in double-figures. Cam Manyawu added a career-high 14 rebounds.

The Cowboys shot 45.3 percent from the field in the contest and shot 53.8 percent in the second half. Air Force shot 41.2 percent on 21 made baskets with 14 coming from behind the arc. The Cowboys shot a season-high 94.7 percent from the free throw line. UW dominated the glass with a 35-25 advantage and held a 30-12 scoring advantage in the paint.

The Falcons got out to an 8-3 lead holding Wyoming to 1-of-8 from the field in the opening five minutes of play. The Pokes held Air Force scoreless for over four minutes and used a 7-0 run for 10-8 lead with under 12 minutes left. An and-one play from Griffin gave Wyoming a 13-9 lead halfway through the half.

The Falcons hit three-straight field goals and took a 17-15 lead with 8:23 left in the first half. The Pokes held Air Force scoreless for over four minutes once again, but only built a 19-17 advantage on the Falcons. Ethan Taylor would give Air Force a 20-19 lead at the 3:43 mark.

Griffin added five-straight points to get to 2,000 points and gave Wyoming a 24-20 lead. Griffin added another three-pointer and Air Force closed the half with a bucket for a 27-22 lead for the Brown and Gold.

The Cowboys used the free throw line early in the second half to make it a 31-22 game. Kot made it a 31-22 game at the 17:44 mark of the half. In all, the Pokes went on a 14-0 run to take a 41-22 lead in the first six minutes of the second half.

The Falcons responded by going on an 8-0 run to make it a 41-30 game with 12:32 left in the game. Kot ended the run with a three-pointer. Air Force added an and-one play for a 44-36 game with 10:49 left in the game.

The Pokes and Falcons got hot from field with Wyoming making five-straight to take a 53-41 lead. Air Force made 6-of-7 including a three pointer for a 53-44 contest with under eight minutes left. The Falcons would later hit back-to-back threes and make it 57-52 game for the Pokes with just over five minutes left.

Wenzel added an and-one play for an eight-point game, but Air Force made it four points. Wenzel added a slam in transition for a 64-56 game, but another three from Air Force made it a 64-59 game with just over three minutes left.

Once again Wenzel hit a pair of threes with the Pokes taking a 70-61 lead with 1:46 left. He got to 20 points for the fifth time this season. The Pokes would get it done at the free throw line and walk away with the 74-63 win.

The Falcons were led by Jeffrey Mills with 17 points going 5-of-7 from behind the arc. Byron Brown added 16 points.

The Cowboys return to action on Saturday closing the regular season against Fresno State in a 5 p.m. MT match up on the Mountain West Network.