FRESNO, Calif. (March 9, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys were clicking on all cylinders in an 86-47 win over Fresno State in the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday in the regular season finale. Wyoming shot 57 percent from the field in the contest and held the Bulldogs to 29 percent. Wyoming held the Bulldogs to under 30 percent for first under 30 percent performance by an opponent since San Jose State in 2022.
"I thought we did an unbelievable job following the game plan tonight," UW head coach Jeff Linder said. "Our collective discipline and effort especially on the defensive end was outstanding. We are trending in the right direction defensively and we were very poised on the offensive side of the ball."
Wyoming's big night marked the tenth game shooting 50 percent or better from the field, as UW is 9-1 this season when doing so. Wyoming also added double-digit threes with 11 on the night for sixth double-digit triple night of the season. UW held a 41-29 on glass and scored 44 points in the paint. Wyoming also added 18 assists in the contest.
Akuel Kot led the way with 17 points on the night going 6-of-9 from the field. Mason Walters added 14 points and nine rebounds along with five assists. Brendan Wenzel added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Sam Griffin added 10 points along with five assists. Caden Powell added eight points and seven rebounds.
The Cowboys got off to a 9-2 lead thanks to seven points from Walters in the opening two and a half minutes of the opening half. Fresno State followed and made it a 9-7 contest with a 5-0 run. Walters got to double-figures with his second triple of the game for a 16-8 contest with 13:21 left in the first half.
The Pokes went on an 8-0 run to take a 26-13 lead halfway through the second half. Combs highlighted the run with four points. The Bulldogs answered with a 7-0 run over two minutes to make it a 26-20 contest. UW added a 7-0 run right after thanks to the transition game and a three-pointer from Kot.
The Pokes would then race to a 46-30 lead at the half. Wyoming shot over 60 percent in the opening half and held the bulldogs to under 40 percent.
The Pokes went on a 7-0 run in the second half to take a 56-30 lead, as Kot recorded five of the points in the run. Fresno State would make it a 53-35 contest with a mini run. A three from Brendan Wenzel made it a 60-35 contest as part of a 7-0 run with under 14 minutes left.
Wyoming would make 5-of-7 field goals including a triple this time from Kobe Newton for a 70-38 lead with under 10 minutes left. Wyoming would hold the Bulldogs without a point for over five minutes and built a 77-38 lead fueled by a 10-0 run.
The Wyoming bench would finish the contest with Cort Roberson leading the way and Wyoming took the 86-47 win to move to 15-16 overall and 8-10 in conference play.
The Bulldogs were led by Jalen Weaver with 12 points.
The Cowboys head to the Mountain West Tournament on Wednesday in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and will be the eighth seed facing No. 9 Fresno State at Noon MT in a contest on the Mountain West Network.