(Honolulu, HI) –
The Wyoming Cowboys (9-2 overall) struggled from behind the arc in a 66-63 loss to Stanford (7-4 overall) in the opening game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Simplifi Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Pokes shot 17 percent from behind the arc but battled back late in the contest erasing a 11-point deficit in the first half. The Pokes will face Northern Iowa in the consolation bracket tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU.
“We knew it was going to come down to our ability to keep them off the offensive glass,” UW head coach Jeff Linder said. “They got some rebounds and we settled in. The last two trips down the floor for Stanford we needed to find a way to come up with those rebounds and it was disappointing not to do so. Our effort defensively was good. The defense gave us a chance to win, and I thought we played through some rust.”
The Cowboys shot 43 percent from the field in the contest with the Cardinal shooting 39 percent. Stanford held an 41-35 advantage on the glass and scored 16 points on second chances.
The Cowboys were led by Graham Ike with 25 points. He was 11-of-18 from the field. Hunter Maldonado added 18 points along with eight rebounds. He also added eight assists in the game. Xavier DuSell added 13 points hitting three of the Pokes’ four triples on the night.
Stanford used the offensive glass to build an early 4-0 lead, but the Pokes responded with a fast break slam from Maldonado and buckets from Ike and DuSell to take a 6-4 lead three minutes into the contest.
The Pokes offense would then go cold not scoring for over five minutes, as Stanford went on a 14-0 run to take a 18-6 lead. The run was halted by a three-pointer from forward Hunter Thompson and a layup from Foster for a 18-11 game halfway through the half.
Stanford would continue to control the action building the lead back to 11 points at 28-17 with just under seven minutes remaining in the half. The Cowboys would later answer with a 9-0 run to make it a 31-28 game with 2:58 left in the opening half. Maldonado and Ike added baskets with a three-pointer from DuSell.
Stanford closed the first half on a 4-0 run and took a 35-30 lead into the break. Wyoming struggled from deep in the opening frame going 2-of-12.
After a bucket from Ike to open the second half, the Cowboys would go scoreless for over four minutes, as Stanford built the lead to six points at 38-32 four minutes into the second half.
Wyoming went on a 5-0 run with a three-pointer from DuSell and layup from Ike for a one-point game at 38-37 with 14 minutes remaining. But Stanford would make three-straight shots and built the lead back to 45-39 two minutes later.
Maldonado would lead the Pokes back to trail by one point at 52-51 with 6:53 left in the game. DuSell would give the Pokes a 54-52 lead with a triple. But Stanford would answer with a 6-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with 4:48 left in the contest.
The Pokes would make it another one-point game at 62-61 with buckets from Maldonado and Ike with just over a minute remaining. Ike would hit a layup but miss the free throw for a 64-63 game with 32 seconds remaining. But the Cardinal held and hit free throws late. Wyoming had a chance to tie the contest with two three attempts but ended up falling 66-63.
Stanford was led by Jaiden Delaire with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The Cowboys return to action on Thursday facing Northern Iowa in the consolation side of the Diamond Head Classic at 4:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU.