LARAMIE – The Cowboys are going to face teams in the Mountain West with a size advantage in the post.
 
Sundance Wicks' team will test how its depth and pace of play match up against a bigger roster when Wyoming hosts Portland on Saturday at the Arena-Auditorium (7 p.m., MW Network).
 
The Pilots (3-0) have seven players listed between 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-10, as well as 7-foot-1 senior center Jermaine Ballisager Webb.
 
UW's second-year head coach is eager to see how the Cowboys (3-0) overcome that tale of the measuring tape.
 
"We're going to have to push the pace on these guys. We can't play a grind-it-out physical style of basketball," Wicks said. "We're going to have to speed them up a little bit, play at our speed and tempo with the RP40 advantage we have."
 
The Pokes are averaging 90 points per game and coming off a 79-65 win over Austin Peay. UW outscored the visitors 22-11 over the final 9 minutes, 18 seconds.
 
Damarion Dennis was 8-for-13 from the field with 17 points, five rebounds and no turnovers to overcome a forgettable night for starting point guard Leland Walker, who did not score and finished with six turnovers.
 
Uriyah Rojas came off the bench and went 6-for-7 on 3-pointers to finish with a career-high 23 points, which made up for a quiet offensive game from leading scorer Nasir (Naz) Meyer (seven points all from the free throw line).
 
If Walker and senior forward Matija Belic can translate the level of play they demonstrate in practice to games UW's balance will be a problem for opponents.
 
"To be honest with you, the best part about this is our two seniors haven't played outstanding yet," Wicks noted. "Matija and Leland haven't found their groove yet and once they find their groove I really like where we're going to be at. I think it's really important the guys that have been there and done that and have that senior leadership. … They are two guys I have a lot of faith in and still believe in."
 
Portland's Joel Foxwell, who is averaging 6.0 assists per game, scored 23 points) during the team's 67-63 victory over future Mountain West member UC Davis. James O'Donnell added 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting.
 
The Pilots rank fifth in the NCAA in both free throw attempts (35.7) and free throws made (26.0) per game.
 
UW was called for 32 fouls that led to 43 free throw attempts for Cal State Fullerton.
 
"I feel it gave the other team a break," Dennis said after the choppy 92-82 win over the Titans. "We're at altitude so just calling all those foul calls is giving the other team a break."
 
So, what's the key to defending without fouling?
 
"Show your hands, especially when the player picks up the ball," Meyer said. "I feel like sometimes we gamble and reach and go for the home run. We've just got to make simple plays and get the bases loaded."
 
UW leads the all-time series 2-1, but Portland won the last meeting 81-70 on Dec. 1, 2023, at the Chiles Center. The Cowboys won the first meeting 52-45 in Laramie during the 1981-82 season and won 61-59 in overtime during the 1983-84 campaign in Portland.
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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