Cowboys Grind Out Late Win Over Air Force at the AA
Freshman Nasir Meyer delivered the decisive moment with 35 seconds remaining, converting a three-point play to put Wyoming in front for good as the Cowboys closed on a defensive stand to secure a 66-62 victory over Air Force inside the Arena-Auditorium. The win marked Wyoming’s 13th at home this season, improving the Cowboys to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in Mountain West play.
Despite shooting just 35 percent from the field and 7-of-28 from three-point range, Wyoming found ways to manufacture offense. The Cowboys were efficient at the free-throw line, hitting 13-of-16 attempts, and turned 15 Air Force turnovers into 22 points. UW also held a narrow 39-36 edge on the glass.
Damarion Dennis paced the Cowboys with 16 points and three assists, converting 7-of-8 at the stripe. Meyer finished with 14 points and matched a career high with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow provided a critical lift off the bench, scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting for his first double-figure outing since the first meeting with the Falcons. Simm-Marten Saadi added nine points in 13 minutes, while Kiani Saxon contributed seven rebounds.
Air Force shot 49 percent from the field and knocked down eight three-pointers at a 44 percent clip, keeping pressure on the Cowboys throughout the night.
The Falcons opened with consecutive three-pointers to jump out to a 6-0 lead before Meyer and Leland Walker sparked Wyoming’s early response. A 9-0 Cowboy run midway through the first half, fueled by triples from Saadi and Harakow, swung momentum and gave UW the lead. Harakow continued to push the advantage as Wyoming stretched the margin to 10, holding Air Force scoreless for extended stretches. The Cowboys carried a 35-25 lead into the break after forcing turnovers and converting them into 15 first-half points.
Air Force chipped away in the second half, using a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to one with nine minutes remaining. The Falcons eventually tied the contest at 51-51 and later grabbed a 62-59 advantage behind three consecutive three-pointers from Kam Sanders with just over two minutes to play.
Wyoming responded in the closing stretch. Meyer scored to cut the deficit to one, then delivered the go-ahead and-one with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys locked in defensively, holding Air Force scoreless over the final two minutes and sealing the win at the free-throw line.
Sanders led the Falcons with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Eli Robinson added 12 points on efficient shooting
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