Cowboys’ Season Ends in NIT Opening Round at Wichita State
The Wyoming Cowboys saw their season come to a close Tuesday night with a 74-70 loss to Wichita State in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Wyoming rallied in the second half and made a late push, but could not quite complete the comeback, ending the year with an 18-15 record.
The Cowboys took positives from a season that produced a winning record and the program’s first postseason appearance since the 2021-22 campaign. Wyoming also matched its highest win total since that season.
Wyoming finished the night shooting 39 percent from the floor and connected on 10 3-pointers while shooting 36 percent from deep. Wichita State shot 43 percent overall and 28 percent from beyond the arc, but the biggest difference came on the glass. The Shockers controlled the boards 55-34, including 17 offensive rebounds that turned into 18 second-chance points.
Damarion Dennis led the Cowboys with 17 points and five rebounds while shooting 7-of-9 from the field. Nasir Meyer poured in 16 points, all in the second half, and added seven rebounds. Leland Walker chipped in seven points and dished out a team-best six assists.
Wichita State scored the game’s first four points before Wyoming answered with an offensive rebound and score from Dennis followed by a free throw from Khaden Bennett to make it 4-3 early. The Cowboys then hit a scoring drought of more than three minutes, allowing the Shockers to stretch the lead to 10-3.
Wyoming responded with a 5-0 burst behind a 3-pointer from Uriyah Rojas and a layup from Bennett to pull within 10-8. Later in the half, Walker knocked down a triple to trim the deficit to 12-11 with under 10 minutes remaining before halftime.
Another 3-pointer from Rojas, this one set up by Meyer, gave Wyoming a 14-12 lead after the Cowboys held Wichita State scoreless for nearly five minutes. The Shockers answered with a 9-0 run and reclaimed momentum, building a 21-14 advantage with less than five minutes to play in the opening half.
Wichita State pushed the lead to eight before Wyoming answered with a dunk from Gavin Gores and a 3-pointer by Dennis to cut the margin to four. That was as close as the Cowboys would get before halftime, as the Shockers carried a 28-24 lead into the break while Wyoming shot just 28 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Dennis opened the second half with a basket to make it a two-point game, but Wichita State quickly responded with a 7-0 run to take a 35-26 lead less than two minutes into the half. Wyoming stayed within striking distance, using baskets from Walker and Kiani Saxon during a stretch of three consecutive makes to close within 38-32.
The Cowboys kept battling and cut the deficit to 39-36 with 14 minutes left after tightening things defensively. Wichita State pushed the lead back to six, but a 3-pointer from Gores trimmed it back to a one-possession game.
Meyer sparked Wyoming’s biggest surge of the night with back-to-back 3-pointers as the Cowboys moved in front 50-49 with under 7:30 to play. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Shockers answered immediately and went back in front 54-52 with less than six minutes remaining.
Meyer tied the score again, but Wichita State responded with a 5-0 run to create breathing room at 59-54 with under four minutes left. Walker later knocked down free throws to cut the deficit to three with less than three minutes to go.
The Shockers extended the lead to six once more before Meyer buried another 3-pointer to make it 66-63 in the final minute. Wichita State answered again to keep Wyoming at arm’s length. Meyer hit free throws with 13 seconds left and later added another late 3-pointer, but the Cowboys ran out of time.
Wichita State was led by TJ Williams with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Kenyon Giles added 15 points for the Shockers.
Despite the loss, Wyoming closed the season with meaningful progress, finishing above .500 and returning to postseason play for the first time in four years
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