LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec 20, 2025) – The Cowboys got off to a slow start and Grand Canyon made the Brown and Gold pay in the opening minutes, as UW fell 82-70 on Saturday afternoon inside the Arena-Auditorium. It marked the first home loss for Wyoming this season, as UW moves to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
"That is a really good team we played today," UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. "They are big and physical and provide matchup problems. We came out a little gun-shy tonight. It is a big learning curve for us. This League, you have to show up every night, and you can't spot teams points. You have to be tough enough to handle the moment at the start of it all."
 
The Cowboys were held to a season-low 37 percent from the field and a season-low 12 percent from behind the arc with only three makes. Grand Canyon shot 57percent from the field and hit 39 percent of their threes. Both teams combined for 36 points off turnovers and GCU had a 32-29 advantage on the glass.
 
The Cowboys were led in scoring by freshman guard Nasir (Naz) Meyer with 12 points for his fourth-straight game in double-figures. He led the team with six rebounds for the game. Leland Walker added 13 points to lead for his 61st career game with 10 or more points. Forward Kiani Saxon added a season-high six points. Forward Abou Magassa added nine points and five rebounds
 
The Pokes hit an early three from Saxon but could not find much more offense with the Lopes taking a 18-3 lead, as UW went scoreless for over six minutes. Walker ended the 16-0 run for the Lopes for a 18-5 game with 13 minutes left in the half.
 
The hot shooting for the Lopes continued as they built the lead to 27-8 halfway through the first half with Grand Canyon scoring 11 points off turnovers in that stretch. The Pokes would hold Grand Canyon without a field goal for over four minutes but stilled enjoyed a solid lead at 32-16.
 
Wyoming went on a 6-2 run, but Grand Canyon still had a 15-point lead and would take a 45-26 advantage into the half.
 
Wyoming opened the second half on a 7-2 run and made it a 47-33 game in the opening three minutes of the frame. Wyoming once again held the Lopes without a bucket for over four minutes, but the GCU would continue to hit shots at the line.
 
Grand Canyon hit five-straight shots and built the lead to 62-40 with under 12 minutes left. Wyoming went on a 6-0 run highlighted by a slam from Magassa for a 62-56 contest.
 
Meyer would get to double-figures for a 67-54 game with seven minutes left. But the Pokes could not capitalize down the stretch to make it a single-digit game as GCU took the MW opener 82-70
 
The Lopes were led by Makiah Williams with 20 points going 6-of-9 from the field. Jaden Henley added 18 points also going 6-of-9 from the field.
 
The Cowboys hit the road continuing conference play with a trip to Air Force on Dec.30 for a 2 p.m. start inside Clune Arena.