(Wyoming release)
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Cowboys will battle with UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in a key contest in the MW race. Both teams defeated preseason MW favorite Nevada this season and are both jockeying for postseason seeding.
The game will be televised on CBS sports Network with Darren Goldwater on the call with Bob Wenzel on the color. Fans can listen and follow live stats on GoWyo.com. The game will be broadcast live on radio over the 25 affiliate stations of the Cowboy Sports Network. Dave Walsh will have the play-by-play alongside Kevin McKinney on the color.
A Look at the Matchup
The Pokes are 16-8 on the season and 7-4 in the MW after their 83-65 home win over Utah State on Wednesday. The Cowboys have been solid on the defensive boards this season averaging 29.2 per game to lead the MW and rank seventh in the nation.
Wyoming connects on their attempts at the free throw line making 457 this season for first in the league and fourth in the nation. UW converts on 75 percent of their freebies for third in the league and No. 53 in the nation. The Pokes have been causing turnovers as well forcing opponents to commit 14.8 per game to rank second in the conference. Wyoming shot 50 percent from the field on Wednesday and are shooting 43 percent for the year.
UNLV heads into Saturday’s game with a 17-7 overall record and a 6-5 mark in the MW. The Runnin’ Rebels downed No. 23 Nevada 86-78 on the road on Wednesday. UNLV is one of the top shooting teams in the nation leading the MW and ranking sixth in the country at 51 percent. The Runnin’ Rebels are also unselfish leading the conference in assists at 16.8 per game.
The Runnin’ Rebels also lead the conference in scoring and rank sixth in the nation at 86 points per game. UNLV grabs 40.1 rebounds per game to lead the MW and rank No. 16 in the nation including 11.5 offensive boards per game.
Each Team’s Leaders
The Pokes are led in scoring by junior guard Justin James at 18.5 points per game for fifth in the MW and No. 86 in the nation. James is second in the league in total field goal attempts at 318. Senior forward Hayden Dalton adds 17.8 points per game for sixth in the MW. He also leads UW at 8.2 rebounds per game for fifth in the league. He has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games and is one point shy of 1,000 for his career.
Senior forward Alan Herndon adds 11.9 points per game. He leads the MW in blocks per game at 2.2 for No. 33 in the nation. His 52 total blocks leads the MW as well and ranks No. 28 in the nation. Senior guard Louis Adams adds 9.1 points per game off the bench. He is No. 12 in the MW in free throws made with 81.
The Runnin’ Rebels are led by freshman forward Brandon McCoy at 17.6 points per game for seventh in the MW. He leads the MW and ranks No. 18 in the nation grabbing 9.9 boards per game. Junior Shakur Juiston adds 9.8 boards per game for third in the MW and No. 22 in the nation. He also adds 14.8 points per game for second on the rebels. Senior guard Jordan Johnson leads the MW in assists at 5.9 per night for No. 23 in the nation.
About the Series
The Cowboys trail in the all-time series 18-37 with the first contest taking place in 1966. Wyoming is 3-26 in Las Vegas against the Runnin’ Rebels with the last win on Feb. 1, 2003 in a 90-80 victory.
Up Next
Wyoming heads to San Diego State on Wednesday to take on the Aztecs for a 9 p.m. start on CBS Sports Network.
