Three possessions doom Cowboys

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

A final one-possession game was decided by three possessions that went the New Mexico Lobos way on Saturday.

With the scored tied at 58-each with about four minutes remaining, the Cowboys turned the ball over three straight times. The Lobos scored each time and then held on to stop Wyoming 70-68 in the Arena-Auditorium.

“You have some guys who were in situations they had never been before,” Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said. “Those turnovers back-to-back … and we got to the line coming down the stretch and we weren't able to capitalize.”

The Cowboys, one of the nation's leading teams in free throws made and attempted, were just 11 of 19 from the free-throw line, missing four free throws in the final three minutes. Wyoming also had 23 turnovers in the game and New Mexico scored 20 points off of those miscues.

“I thought we played well enough to win,” Schroyer said. “I thought we shot ourselves in the foot at times, but you have to give New Mexico a lot of credit, they are very good. A couple of key turnovers here and there, and obviously some missed free throws, and that was the difference.”

A.J. Hardeman scored a career-high 18 points for New Mexico (2-2 MWC, 16-3).

“I thought it was two really young basketball teams fighting like crazy for a win,” New Mexico coach Steve Alford said. “I thought we did a good job keeping them off of the line … keeping them off the line was a big key.”

Afam Muojeke led the Cowboys (1-3, 8-10) with 16 points.

Hardeman was 7 of 10 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. He also took two big charging fouls on defense.

“He has been so consistent, and I thought there was a game where he was going to explode a little bit, and tonight was the one,” Alford said.

Phillip McDonald and Darrington Hobson both scored 15 points for New Mexico.

Wyoming still had a chance in the final minute of the game, trailing by three and in possession of the basketball, but Muojeke was called for the offensive foul on the fastbreak. The Lobos hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to clinch the win.

Alford, whose team was ranked 15th in the country last week before dropping its first two league games, said his young team has done a good job of finding ways to win.

"We didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but they (Wyoming) did a nice job with their pressure defense," Alford said. "Any time you can come on the road and score 70 and get a win, you have to be pleased."

Adam Waddell and Djibril Thiam both scored 11 points for Wyoming.