Cowboys Stumble in 79-63 Defeat Against Colorado State: A Game of Missed Opportunities

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Jan. 18, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboys struggled to find an offensive groove, suffering a 79-63 defeat against Colorado State on Saturday afternoon at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie. The Pokes managed only 39.7 percent shooting from the floor in the game and connected on merely five three-point attempts throughout the evening.

“I noted two crucial aspects on the board for our team—physicality and resilience. You need to strike first, not just respond,” stated UW head coach Sundance Wicks. “We failed to convert physical finishes and did not secure critical stops when it mattered most. Our focus must be on defense, rebounding, and maintaining flow, and that responsibility is available for seven or eight players.”

The Pokes were restricted to below 40 percent shooting from the field and achieved just 22.7 percent from beyond the arc, even as UW was at the top of the conference for three-point percentage headed into the matchup. The Rams shot an impressive 51.9 percent from the floor and made eight three-pointers. Colorado State had a 37-28 edge in rebounding.

Leading the way for the Pokes was Obi Agbim with 26 points, marking his sixth game this season scoring 20 or more points. He also tied a season-high with six rebounds, leading the team in that category. He concluded the game with 10 field goals, matching a season best. Dontaie Allen contributed 14 points, equaling a season-high for his fourth game with double-digit scoring. He shot 3-of-5 from three-point range.

The Rams established a 6-0 advantage in the opening minutes of the contest by utilizing the paint effectively. However, Wyoming quickly countered with baskets from Agbim and Cole Henry. Abou Magassa added an and-one, completing a 7-0 run for the Pokes, giving them a 7-6 edge with less than 17 minutes remaining in the first half.

As the Rams maintained their hot shooting, they extended their lead to 14-9 with under 14 minutes in the first half. Wyoming faced a scoring drought that lasted over three minutes, allowing the Rams to pull ahead 22-15 midway through the half.

Later, Colorado State launched a 6-0 surge to stretch their lead to 28-17, ended by an Allen layup with just under six minutes left in the half. The Rams drained two three-pointers to widen the gap to 36-21, yet the Pokes managed to finish the half strong, ending on a 7-0 run to reduce CSU’s lead to 36-28 at halftime.

In the second half’s early moments, the Pokes narrowed the deficit to six points, but the Rams quickly rebuilt their advantage to 11 by capitalizing on offensive rebounds and defensive plays. Wyoming forced turnovers from the Rams and kept CSU scoreless for over three minutes, bringing the score to 45-42. However, the Rams hit two three-pointers to increase their lead to 51-42 with 13 minutes remaining. Agbim and Allen contributed triples during the run along with a basket from Oleg Kojenets.

The Rams restored their double-digit lead midway through the second period, taking advantage of the Pokes’ challenges shooting the ball. Wyoming fell behind by as many as 13 points but managed to keep the Rams off the scoreboard for over two minutes without cutting deeply into the margin.

In the closing moments, the Rams found success in the paint, converting 5-of-7 field goals, ultimately capturing the first installment of the Border War, 79-63.

The Rams were guided by Nique Clifford, who tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Wyoming is set to travel to Las Vegas on Tuesday for a matchup with UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center at 9 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.