Ewing comes through again

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing drives past a Northern Iowa player on Saturday.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

CASPER -- Brandon Ewing took it upon himself late in the first half when he sank a last-second 3-pointer to give the Wyoming Cowboys a slight halftime lead against Northern Iowa at the BlueCross BlueShield Wyoming Shootout.

He then was automatic from the free-throw line down the stretch to help preserve the 74-65 win.

“He is playing his best since I have been here,” Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said. “He’s a phenomenal player, but more importantly, he’s the point guard, he is leading this team in the locker room, on the bus, everywhere. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Ewing finished with a team-high 22 points, hitting 4-of 8 3-pointers. More importantly, he was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final 2:38. He also finished with seven assists and just one turnover.

“I thought Ewing did a great job of controlling the basketball game from about the five-minute mark on down,” with his senor leadership and his ability to get to the basket,“ Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson said. “I think more than anything, his presence as a senior was really the determining factor in the game today."

After a block by center Mikhail Linskens, the Cowboys got one final chance with seconds in the first half. Ewing nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Wyoming a 35-33 lead.

“I didn’t know we were losing at the time, but we came out up by two, so that was a big-time 3,” Ewing said. “It was momentum changer, it got the crowd back into it. It helped us out a lot.”

Wyoming redshirt freshman Afam Muojeke said they are used to seeing Ewing make those plays.

“Every day in practice and every game, Brandon is our big energy guy,” Muojeke said. “When he makes big plays, it’s really big for us.”
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Although the Panthers are just 5-5 this season, they are a team the Cowboys knew they had to win to get some respect. Northern Iowa has emerged as a solid team in the Missouri Valley Conference under Jacobson.

“We knew they were a tough team coming in,” Ewing said. “Even thought have been losing a lot this year, they are a great team. They’ve been to the NCAA Tournament and the NIT.”

Schroyer said although people might not understand how strong the UNI program is, he said he knows they are very good.

“This a postseason team. This program hasn’t won anything less than 18 games the last five years,” Schroyer said. “They are very well coached, they are very disciplined. We knew it was going to be tough game. They are a postseason team, it was great to get a win.”

Wyoming forward Tyson Johnson said they had to be tougher down the stretch.

“We stuck together, we never lowered our guard. We kept fighting and came away with a win,” Johnson said.
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In his first game as a Cowboy, sophomore Djibril Thiam scored three points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocked shots in 23 minutes of court time. Thiam was playing his first game after transferring from Baylor a year ago.

“I think without Djibril, I don’t know if we win tonight,“ Schroyer said. “Those three offensive rebounds means it is three more shots that we get and two blocks are two shots they don’t get. You’re looking at an eight-point swing just on that.

“He’ll continue to find his rhythm offensively. He’s going to be a very special player in this uniform in the future.”