UW-Adams State boxscore
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
After two tough losses to NCAA Tournament teams, the Wyoming Cowboys needed that winning feeling heading into next week's Mountain West Conference opener with rival Colorado State.
They got that feeling and more, crushing Division II Adams State 123-71 Saturday in the Arena-Auditorium.
“I feel confident right now, our young guys just have to buy into this system more and continue to grow … we all have to grow to learn this system,” said Wyoming sophomore A.J. Davis, who scored a career-high 26 points.
Wyoming (7-7) was sluggish early against Division II Adams State (3-8), but finally wore down the Grizzlies late in the first half with an aggressive full-court press, which continued throughout much of the second half.
“I thought in the second half, we probably played as well as we have all year,” Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said. “I thought we shared the ball and I thought our pressure really took over.”
The Cowboys forced 30 Adams State turnovers and scored 47 points off of those miscues.
"We've hung our hat on our pressure defense this season," Schroyer said. "At this altitude, it tends to wear opponents down. I tell the guys that they (UW's opponents) may break it a few times, but if we keep up the intensity, it will play dividends."
Nick Fox scored 25 points for the Grizzlies, who shot 31 percent from the field (16 of 52).
Davis, who finished 8 of 11 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line, scored 17 points in the first half as Wyoming used a 17-5 run in the final 4:43 to lead 53-36.
“In that first 16 minutes, we really controlled the tempo and we were staying close,” Adams State coach Mark Murdock said. “We didn't come out of the locker room ready to play in the second half, and the four-minute run ending the first half turned into a 24-minute run to end the game.”
Wyoming outscored Adams State 87-41 in the final 24 minutes.
“We came out flat. We challenged them at that four-minute mark and we challenged them at halftime, and they really responded after that,” Schroyer said.
Afam Muojeke scored 21 points for Wyoming, with Ryan Dermody and Djibril Thiam adding 19 points each. Desmar Jackson also scored 12 points for the Cowboys, who shot 55 percent from the field (40 of 75), including 67 percent in the second half.
The game was slowed down with 63 total fouls called, resulting in 99 free throws attempted. The Cowboys were 34 of 49 from the free-throw line, to 37 of 50 for Adams State.
Wyoming begins MWC play on Wednesday when it hosts CSU, beginning at 7 p.m.
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