FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Feb. 23, 2019) – The Wyoming Cowboys struggled to find rhythm in 83-48 loss to Colorado State inside Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. on Saturday afternoon. The Rams hit 13 three-pointers for the game and held the Pokes to 31 percent from the field for the afternoon.
 
Senior guard Justin James recorded 29 points and added 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and the 14th of his career. James also surpassed 1,900 career points and sits at 1,927 points in the Brown and Gold. He has now scored 20 or more points in a game 18 times this season and 45 times in his career. He tied a career-high with 24 points and had his hand in 93 percent of the Pokes' offense.
 
"We have to compete together right now," UW head coach Allen Edwards said. "One of the things I told our guys is that their supporting cast didn't shoot the ball well at our place and they were solid this afternoon. We have to play consistent defense and 83 points is too much for us to allow."
 
Wyoming shot 31 from the field on the afternoon going 16-of-52 and were 2-of-24 from the three-point line. The Rams, who lead the MW in field goal percentage shot 50 percent from the field. Colorado State also held a 41-25 advantage on the glass.
 
James helped the Pokes take an early 5-4 lead with a layup and an assist on a Trevon "TJ" Taylor three pointer. But the Rams top threat Nico Carvacho added eight points and assisted on two threes, as CSU took a 17-5 lead with 14:06 left in the half.
 
After the Pokes went on a brief 4-0 run, the Rams countered with a 7-0 run to make it a 22-9 contest halfway through the first frame. Turnovers would hinder an offensive rhythm for the Pokes that helped Colorado State build a 33-15 advantage with 5:29 left.
 
The Pokes closed out the first half with a dunk by A.J. Banks, the only basket by Wyoming in the final 7:29 of the half, as the Rams took a 40-19 lead at the half. Wyoming was held to 25 percent from the field in the first frame with the Rams hitting 48 percent from the field.
 
James opened the first half with a steal and a dunk followed by a three pointer from Jake Hendricks to make it a 40-24 contest in the opening minute. But the Rams would maintain the double-digit lead, as back-to-back jumpers and free throws would make it a 47-30 game with 14:25 left.
 
The Pokes would cut the deficit to 13 points at 47-24 with 13:36 left thanks to a pair of technical free throws and a layup from James. But the Rams would go on a 12-0 run over nearly three minutes to build a 59-34 advantage halfway through the second stanza.
 
The Rams would maintain that advantage for the rest of the contest on their way to the 83-48 win. The two teams split this season's Border War with each team earning a win on its own floor.   
 
Colorado State was led in scoring by J.D. Paige with 15 points. He also added four rebounds and four assists. Carvacho added 13 points, but was held six rebounds under his nationally leading average of 13.
 
Wyoming heads to Fresno State for a showdown with the Bulldogs next Wednesday at 8 p.m. MT in the Save Mart Center.