Wyoming Can’t Overcome First-Half Woes in Loss to Nevada

* University of Wyoming press release

RENO, Nev., - The Wyoming Cowboys couldn’t overcome the hot shooting of Nevada In the first half in a 76-58 loss to the Wolf Pack, who are receiving votes in both polls on Tuesday evening in the Lawlor Event Center in Reno, Nev.

The Pokes fall to 13-13 overall and 6-7 in Mountain West play with the Wolf Pack moving to 21-6 overall and 8-5 in conference action.

Get our free mobile app

“From a game plan side of things, Tre Coleman battled early for Nevada and give them credit they came out and played like an NCAA Tournament Team,” UW associated head coach Ken DeWeese said after filling in for head coach Jeff Linder, who was ejected in the first half after receiving consecutive technical fouls for jawing at officials. “At the end of the day we have to keep pace and score more buckets. Cam Manyawu bounced back and was aggressive and confident which was nice to see for us.”

The Pokes were held to 42 percent from the field for the game with the Wolf Pack shooting 48 percent. Nevada knocked down 11 threes in the contest with the Cowboys hitting just five. Nevada forced 15 turnovers for the night and turned that into 19 points. Wyoming held a 36-25 advantage on the glass.

Wyoming was led in scoring by Brendan Wenzel with 17 points on the night. It marked the seventh-straight game he has scored in double-figures. Cam Manyawu added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the contest. It was his sixth double-double of the season. Mason Walters added 11 points for the Brown and Gold.

The Wolf Pack built an early 14-4 lead on the Cowboys in the opening five minutes of play led by eight points from Tre Coleman. Cam Manyawu made it a seven-point game with an and-one play, but Coleman got to double-figures for a 17-7 lead with under 13 minutes left in the half.

Nevada built the lead to 24-11 with under nine minutes left in the frame, but another and-one play from Manyawu made it a 24-14 contest at the 8:42 mark of the frame. A fast break slam for the Wolf Pack and a triple made it a 32-16 game with just over five minutes left in the half.

The Wolf Pack capped a 12-0 run and built the lead to 35-16. Nevada would take the lead into the half by a score of 44-21 as the Pokes were held to 26 percent from the field.

Coleman helped the Wolf Pack build a 52-25 lead in the early goings of the second half. The Pokes went on a 11-0 run over four minutes to make it a 52-36 game with 11:31 left in the game. Sam Griffin recorded the last five points of the run with Walters and Manyawu getting it done in the paint in the early parts of the run.

Wenzel and Walters would make it a 15-point contest at 60-45 with eight minutes left with a quick 5-0 run. The Wolf Pack would build the lead back to 20-plus with a 68-47 lead with under six minutes. The Pokes would try to cut into the lead, but the Wolf Pack took the contest by a score of 76-58.

Nevada was led by Coleman with 20 points going 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Jerrod Lucas added 19 points knocking down four threes as well.

The Cowboys return home for a contest against Boise State in the Arena-Auditorium set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.