Honestly, walking into the Arena-Auditorium at 7,220 feet used to feel like an automatic advantage. That thin air, the "Dome of Doom" atmosphere—it’s supposed to break visiting teams by the ten-minute mark of the second half. But if you’ve been tracking the Wyoming Cowboys basketball score lately, you know that home-court magic has felt a little thin.
On Wednesday night, the Pokes took another tough one on the chin, falling 74-57 to San Diego State.
It wasn’t just a loss. It was a 17-point reality check. For a team that started the season with some real promise under Sundance Wicks, the current 11-6 record (and a dismal 2-4 in Mountain West play) tells a story of a group that can score in bunches but disappears when the defense tightens up.
The San Diego State Meltdown: What Went Wrong?
If you only looked at the final Wyoming Cowboys basketball score, you might think it was a blowout from the tip. It wasn't.
Wyoming actually hung around early. But then the shooting went cold. I’m talking Laramie-in-January cold. The Cowboys shot a miserable 31% from the field. You just can’t beat a team like SDSU when you’re missing seven out of every ten shots you take. Nasir Meyer, who has been a bright spot as a freshman, put up 13 points, but he didn't have much help.
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Gavin Gores grabbed eight boards and chipped in 12 points, yet the flow of the offense felt stagnant. The Aztecs, meanwhile, looked like they were playing at sea level. They shot 50% and basically bullied Wyoming in the paint.
Leland Walker, the senior guard we all expected to carry the backcourt, finished with 10 points and five assists. He’s been the engine of this team, but on Wednesday, the engine was sputtering.
Breaking Down the Scoring Trends
- First Half Woes: Wyoming went into the locker room down 38-25.
- The Run That Wasn't: They cut the lead to 10 early in the second half. For a second, the crowd got into it.
- The Dagger: SDSU responded with a 14-3 run. Game over.
Sundance Wicks mentioned after the game that he’s "tired of chasing ghosts." He’s talking about the consistency and the "toughness" that Wyoming teams used to be known for. Right now, this roster is talented, but they’re young and clearly still learning how to handle the physicality of the Mountain West.
The Road Ahead: Can They Turn It Around?
Looking at the upcoming schedule, things don't get much easier. They’ve got Fresno State on the road this Saturday (January 17), and then Boise State comes to town next Tuesday.
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If you're looking for a silver lining, it's that the Cowboys are still 9-2 at home overall. They know how to play in the AA. The problem is that the conference is deeper than it’s been in years. Utah State is looking like a Top 25 lock, and New Mexico is playing at a level we haven't seen in a decade.
Key Stats to Watch
| Category | Season Average | Last Game (vs SDSU) |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 84.0 | 57 |
| FG Percentage | 46.2% | 31.0% |
| 3PT Percentage | 37.1% | 29.4% |
Basically, the Pokes are a high-octane offense that got grounded. When they aren't hitting the long ball, they don't have a reliable "Plan B" inside.
The Freshman Factor: Naz Meyer and Gavin Gores
Let's talk about the kids. Nasir Meyer and Gavin Gores are the future. There’s no way around it. Meyer is 6'7" with a wingspan that frustrates guards, and Gores is a 6'10" freshman who isn't afraid to mix it up.
Most people get it wrong—they think Wyoming is a veteran-reliant team because of Leland Walker. But the ceiling of this team is tied to how fast Meyer and Gores grow up. On nights when the Wyoming Cowboys basketball score is ugly, these two are usually the ones still fighting in the final four minutes.
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Actionable Steps for Pokes Fans
If you're following the team this season, here is what you need to keep an eye on to see if a turnaround is actually happening:
- Watch the "Points in the Paint": Wyoming relies too much on the three. If they start getting 30+ points in the paint, they become much harder to defend.
- Monitor the Free Throw Rate: In the loss to Nevada earlier this month, they were aggressive. Against SDSU, they settled for jumpers. Aggressive Wyoming is winning Wyoming.
- Check the Bench Contribution: Guys like Jared Harris and Abou Magassa need to provide more than just "breather minutes."
The Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas is still two months away. There is time. But if the Wyoming Cowboys basketball score doesn't start reflecting some defensive improvement, it’s going to be a very long Wednesday in March.
Check the local listings for the Fresno State game—it kicks off at 5:00 PM MT this Saturday. It’s a "must-win" in the sense that you can't fall to 2-5 in the conference and expect to see any postseason play. Tune in, keep an eye on the shooting percentages early, and hope the Pokes find their rhythm again.
Next Steps for Tracking the Season:
- Keep an eye on the Mountain West standings to see if Wyoming can climb out of the bottom four.
- Watch the freshman development of Naz Meyer, as his scoring output has been the biggest indicator of Wyoming's success this season.