November 23, 1998
RENO, Nev. - Ugo Udezue scored 18 points and Wyoming defeated Nevada73-69 Monday night after almost losing an eight-point lead in the final 33seconds.
LeDarion Jones added 16 points and Anthony Blakes and Chris McMillian 11each for Wyoming (1-1), which presented first-year coach Steve McClain with hisfirst NCAA Division I victory.
Dimitrios Marmarinos and John Burrell had 20 points each for Nevada (1-1).
The Wolf Pack, trailing 71-63 after McMillian made a free throw with 33seconds to go, got 3-point goals from Derrick Anderson with 20 seconds to play,and with 12.2 seconds left to bring Nevada within 72-69.
McMillian was called for traveling with 11.6 seconds left, giving Nevada theball and a chance to tie with a 3-pointer. But the inbound pass went throughJoao Santos' hands. Jones recovered the loose ball, and McMillian made a freethrow with 4.8 seconds left to clinch the win.
After Nevada took its last lead, 52-51, on a basket by Marmarinos with 7:23to go, Wyoming went on an 8-0 run to which Udezue - who fouled out with 2:43left and Wyoming up 63-57 - contributed two baskets. That gave the Cowboys a59-52 lead with 5:24 remaining.
Nevada led 21-14 midway through the first half before Jones scored fivepoints during an 11-2 run that gave the Cowboys a 25-23 lead. Wyoming led 32-29at halftime.
Nevada committed 27 turnovers and shot only 39.7 percent from the field,taking 29 3-pointers and making nine. The Wolf Pack outrebounded the Cowboys52-39, with Marmarinos grabbing 10.
Both teams shot poorly from the free-throw line. Wyoming was 16 for 33 andNevada 6 for 14.
GAME SUMMARY
1st half 2nd half OT Final(V)Wyoming 32 41 - 73(H)Nevada 29 40 - 69
Team Leaders Wyoming Nevada
Points Udezue-18 Marmarinos, Burrell-20Rebounds Blakes-9 Marmarinos-10Assists Blakes-6 Zapata-8Steals McMillian-4 Anderson-2
Team Stats
FG % 43.3% 39.7% FT % 48.5% 42.8%3-pt % 29.4% 31%
Attendance - 5,127
