LARAMIE, Wyo. (Jan. 20, 2026) – The Wyoming Cowboys, who are without three key players, could not overcome a first half surge by Boise State in an 81-65 loss to the Broncos inside the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie on Tuesday evening. The Cowboys fall to 11-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play.
 
"Tale of two halves," UW head coach Sundance Wicks said.  "The guys came out right and had them flustered, but if you can't put the ball in the hole it's tough. We need guys to step up, but if you aren't willing to take the open looks you are not going to make them. We have a saying that players play and tough players win. We got stretched out and they got some run outs."
 
Wyoming shot 45 percent from the field and shot 60 percent in the second half. Boise State shot 49 percent and was 39 percent from behind the arc with 10 makes. The Pokes were held to 5-of-19 from behind the arc with all five makes coming in the second half.
 
Leland Walker led the Pokes with a career-high 30 points for his 14th game this season in double-figures and the 67th of his career. He was 10-of-17 from the field tying a season-high. His 30 points was the most since Hunter Maldonado had 36 against New Mexico in the Mountain West Tournament in 2023. Gavin Gores added eight points and four rebounds along with Damerion Dennis adding the same line. Khaden Bennett added 10 rebounds tying a career-high, as he had seven points.
 
Gores led the Pokes early with a pair of thunderous slams and a pair of free throws for an 8-3 lead, as Dennis added a bucket as well. Wyoming held the Broncos to 1-of-10 from the field to open the game in the opening seven minutes, but the Pokes were struggling from the field as well with Boise State taking the lead 9-8 on an and-one play at the halfway mark of the frame.
 
Walker made back-to-back baskets, and the Pokes took a 12-9 lead, as it was his first buckets of the game. He added another bucket, but Boise would go on a run of 18-0 and took a 29-14 lead with three minutes in the half. Wyoming went scoreless for over six minutes.
 
The Broncos would finish the half on a 9-2 run and take a 38-18 lead into the break holding the Pokes to 31 percent from the field, Boise State shot 52 percent.
 
Simm-Marten Saadi opened the second half with a three-pointer for the first for the Pokes in over 42 minutes of action dating back to the Fresno State game. Uriyah Rojas added a bucket followed by a three from Walker for a 38-26 game with 17 minutes left.
 
The Pokes made a mini run of 4-0, but a 5-0 run by Boise State made it a 49-32 game with 13 minutes left. Boise State would still enjoy a large lead at 53-39 with 10 minutes left in the contest. The Broncos added back-to-back threes from Andrew Meadows and made it a 59-39 game.
 
Boise State would hold the Pokes without a field goal for nearly four minutes and built the lead to a game high. Wyoming would work to work down the lead but fell in the end 81-65.
 
The Broncos were led by Meadows with 21 points. He was 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from behind the arc. Drew Fielder added 15 points and led the team with nine rebounds.
 
The Cowboys return to action on Saturday hosting San Jose State at 2 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.