Cowboys Dominate the Paint in 108-85 Win Over Concordia, St. Paul

LARAMIE -- The Wyoming Cowboys had six players in double-figures and owned a +20 advantage on the glass in a 108-85 win over Concordia, St. Paul on Monday evening in the Arena-Auditorium.

It marked the first win of the Sundance Wicks era at Wyoming.

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“We have played some teams that have given us a different look,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. “It was a great battle and I thought we won a lot of categories. It feels like a win and winning is hard and we are going to celebrate this one. The Guys had fun tonight and the fans want to see joy and they saw that tonight.”

The Pokes recorded 78 points in the paint for the night and finished the contest shooting 54 percent from the field for the night. Wyoming allowed 39 percent from the field from Concordia, St. Paul including 10 three pointers. The Wyoming bench recorded 68 points off the bench.

The Pokes were led in scoring by Obi Agbim with 25 points on the night. He also added six assists for the Cowboys. Center Scottie Ebube added 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Cole Henry added 12 points and five rebounds. Jordan Nesbitt added 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the contest with eight on each end of the floor.

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Kobe Newton added 11 points with a career-high four two-point baskets, as he had three all last season. Touko Tainamo added 10 points for the Cowboys off the bench.

Both teams struggled from the field early as Wyoming held the Golden Bears scoreless for nearly the first four minutes to take a 6-0 lead on a pair of three pointers. A slam on a pick and roll from Agbim to Oleg Kojenets made it a 12-4 game near the 15-minute mark of the half.

The Golden Bears would get hot from behind the arc and make it a 18-17 contest near the 12-minute mark of the opening frame. Concordia, St. Paul would tie the contest with under nine minutes left in the half and take the lead at 28-26.

Nesbitt fueled a run on the glass for the Pokes for a 6-0 scamper for a 36-30 game with under five minutes left in the opening half. A.J. Wills added a triple for a 42-35 lead. Wyoming would build the lead to nine, but an and-one play by CSP made it a 51-45 game for UW at the break.

A kiss off the glass and a transition three gave Wyoming a 62-52 lead near the 17-minute mark of the second frame. The Bears would keep battling, but Ebube gave Wyoming a jump off the bench including a slam for a 69-59 lead with the Pokes holding CSP scoreless for nearly three minutes.

Wyoming would dominate the glass and the defensive end taking an 82-59 lead as Nesbitt would get to double-figures along with Henry. Agbim would take over and lead the Pokes to a 95-78 lead with under five minutes left.

Ebube continued to punish the rim with Wyoming taking a 104-78 lead and would take the contest 108-85 including shooting 69 percent from the field in the second frame.

The Golden Bears were led by Antwan Kimmons and Ben Kopetzki each added 20 points. Kimmons added nine rebounds to lead the team.

Wyoming will host Tennessee State on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.

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