By Jeff Bugher
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 1, 2024) - The Wyoming Cowboys are gearing up for a pivotal matchup as they conclude their two-game road stretch this Saturday in Las Vegas against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. local time. Riding high on a wave of recent success, with four wins in their last five outings, the Pokes are eager to secure another road victory.
CBS Sports Network will broadcast the game, with play-by-play commentary from Rich Waltz, accompanied by Avery Johnson and Darren Collison. Fans can also catch the action on Altitude and follow live stats on GoWyo.com. For radio coverage, Keith Kelly and Kevin McKinney will bring the game to life over the Cowboy Sports Network, spanning 26 affiliate stations.
Wyoming boasts a 12-9 season record, standing at 5-3 in conference play following their impressive 83-72 victory over Air Force on Tuesday. Their sharpshooting performance, particularly behind the arc where they shot 63.2%, showcased their offensive prowess, marking their best three-point shooting percentage since 2013. Currently leading the Mountain West (MW) with a 39.8% three-point shooting average, the Cowboys are also eighth nationally in this category. Maintaining a solid overall shooting percentage of 45.9%, they have surpassed the 50% mark in seven games this season.
Meanwhile, UNLV enters the fray with an 11-9 overall record and a 4-4 conference standing after defeating Fresno State 78-69 in their recent outing. Shooting at 47% from the field and 33.4% from three-point range, the Runnin’ Rebels exhibit a formidable offensive game, averaging 6.9 steals per match and ranking second in the conference for turnovers forced, with 13.6 per game.
Key players to watch for Wyoming include Sam Griffin, who leads the team in scoring with an average of 18.1 points per game, ranking third in the MW and 81st nationally. Griffin also tops the team charts with 76 assists and 51 successful three-pointers this season, nearing a career milestone of 300 treys. Akuel Kot adds 15.5 points per game, while Mason Walters contributes 13.3 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. Cam Manyawu leads the team in rebounds with an average of 5.9 per game, with Brendan Wenzel adding 9.7 points per game, elevating to 11.6 points per game in conference play.
For UNLV, Kalib Boone leads the scoring charts with 13.0 points per game, showcasing remarkable accuracy with a 62% shooting rate from the field, ranking second in the conference and 22nd nationally. Luis Rodriguez adds 12.1 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with an average of seven per game. Keylan Boone and Dedan Thomas Jr. contribute 12.0 and 11.8 points per game respectively, with Thomas Jr. also tallying 125 assists this season.
Historically, Wyoming has faced a challenging record against UNLV, with the Runnin’ Rebels holding a 20-44 advantage in their series dating back to 1966, claiming victory in three of the last five games.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys will return home to host the No. 19 ranked New Mexico Lobos on Tuesday at the Arena-Auditorium, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
*Stats and info from a UW Press Release were used to compose this article.
Comments