Cowboys and Cowgirls Face Tough Games Against the Wolfpack
Big match-ups exist for both Wyoming basketball teams against Nevada in Mountain West Conference play tonight.
The Cowboys lost 92-83 to the Wolfpack in Reno three weeks ago, while the Cowgirls picked up a hard fought win at home in their first meeting, 66-60.
Wyoming Cowboys
Coming off an impressive and much-needed victory at Utah State last Saturday night, the Pokes host No. 23 Nevada at the Arena-Auditorium. The game starts at 9 p.m.
Wyoming (12-7, 3-3) hit some big shots and made clutch free throws down the stretch of their 85-77 win over the Aggies. Now they host a ranked opponent for the first time since No. 5 San Diego State visited Laramie Feb. 11, 2014. UW won that game 68-62.
Nevada (13-3, 7-0) leads the MW and is coming off their own big victory over second place Boise State, 74-68 last Saturday.
Cowboys head coach Allen Edwards says I believed at their place we had a chance.
“I felt like we shot ourselves in the foot with some costly turnovers late; maybe some quick shots. Excited, obviously, coming off the Utah State win on the road and just having some good energy. I look forward to the match-up.”
For Edwards he feels three weeks ago UW got away from its defensive game-plan in the second half and got fatigued. He says he’ll be looking to rest Alan Herndon and Hayden Dalton more in this game, much like last game at Utah State.
“Looking back on it, I don’t think we played our best brand of basketball, and I don’t think they did either.”
He says a key will be to make Nevada guard, play defense.
The game is being televised on ESPNU.
Wyoming Cowgirls
The Mountain-West leading Cowgirls are on the road tonight in Reno, as they seek their sixth straight win.
Wyoming (12-5, 5-1) began their current win streak with that victory three weeks ago over the Wolfpack. Since, UW has rattled off victories against Boise State, New Mexico, CSU and Utah State.
Head coach Joe Legerski says their recent success stems from the team buying in to how we want to play.
“The pace we want to play at. The defensive style we would like to play, and the ability of not only getting a good shot, but getting the best shot.”
Nevada (11-7, 4-3) enters off a big road win at Boise State last Saturday, 72-68.
Legerski says what makes a difference for this Wolfpack team is their balance. Nevada has seven players that average between 8 and 13 points per game.
“It just puts more pressure on you, and that’s where I refer to having other people step up. We need a number of people to step forward, and we have to get to that 8.5 point, where we have four or five players scoring at that clip. That would make us a better team offensively, and just a better team all-around.
Tonight’s game from the Lawlor Events Center is at 7:30 p.m.