LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team took the win at home in a dramatic game against UNLV Saturday with a score of 59-57.
The Pokes (9-8, 2-2 MW) trailed by 17 midway through the first half, but held the Rebels (9-7, 0-3 MW) to just three field goals in the last 11 minutes of the game.
“I would agree that it was a big win and it was a great comeback,” UW head coach Larry Shyatt said in a press release from UW athletics. “Different guys at different times for us. MVP clearly is Lance Schuemann, our trainer, because he found Jordan Naughton’s missing contact lens at halftime. Thank god for him. Again, a different guy on a different night, though. Alexander Aka Gorski comes up with some big threes, Jason McManamen comes up with some big threes and boy did Jordan Naughton give us an extra oomph inside when we needed him.”
Wyoming suffered through another sluggish start to trail 22-5 with less than 10 minutes left in the first half, but would battle back to pull within four at 31-27 at halftime. The second half would feature all 13 lead changes in the game. The Cowboys took control down the stretch at the foul line, though. Sophomore guard Alexander Aka Gorski, freshman forward Jordan Naughton and senior guard Josh Adams all hit pressure-filled free throws, but it was sophomore forward Alan Herndon’s two with three seconds left that iced the game.
Wyoming plays on the road versus San Jose State Wednesday at 8 p.m. MT.