Cowboys Start Strong, But Fall on the Road to New Mexico

University of Wyoming Athletics Press Release
6 days ago
3 min read

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., (Jan. 3, 2026) – Despite a strong start to open the contest, the Wyoming Cowboys could overcome a late first half and early second half run by New Mexico in a 78-58 road loss to the Lobos inside The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M. on Saturday evening. Wyoming falls to 10-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

“You have to be at your best when your best is needed, I think we have a chance, but we are not there yet and until we can prove we can compete with the top of this league our guys will have to show up every day and show me and the State of Wyoming they can do it,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said. I don’t think our guys believe enough yet and we gave up a bad bucket going into half time and we cannot do that.”

The Cowboys shot 39.6 percent from the field in the contest with the Lobos shooting 46.9 percent and 51.6 in the second half. The Lobos added nine threes with the Pokes adding seven. The Lobos held a 37-30 advantage on the glass with each team grabbing double-digit offensive rebounds. The Lobos added 40 points in the paint in the contest.

Wyoming was led in scoring by Leland Walker as he added 14 points for his ninth game in double-figures this season and the 62nd of his collegiate career. He also added three assists in the contest. Gavin Gores added eight points and led the team with six rebounds on the night tying a career high. Nasir (Naz) Meyer recorded nine points along with five rebounds and five assists.

The Pokes took an early 12-9 lead in the opening four minutes with Simm Marten-Saadi and Walker putting an exclamation point on the start with a pair of tripls. UW opened the contest 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

Wyoming made three-straight shots including a fast break bucket from Abou Magassa for an 18-14 lead with 12 minutes left in the first frame. Wyoming went scoreless for three minutes with the Lobos tying the contest at 18-18.

The Pokes took a 24-18 lead on a 6-0 run fueled by a pair of nifty assists from Meyer on a slam by Gores and layup from Damarion Dennis. Gores pushed it to seven with a triple for a 29-22 game with six minutes left in the half.

New Mexico 10-0 run and took a 32-29 lead in the final minutes of the half, as UW went five minutes without a bucket. Walker added a layup, but a slam by the Lobos made it a 34-31 game at the half in favor of New Mexico.

New Mexico came out strong opening the second frame on a 14-3 run to build a 48-34 lead with 15 minutes remaining. An and-one play from Walker made It a 55-44 game with 12 minutes left, as he would get to double-figures.

Wyoming made it a 10-point game, but the Lobos pushed the lead back to as much as 15 points with eight minutes remaining. The Lobos would use the line to increase the lead to 71-53 with under five minutes left and took the contest 78-58.

The Lobos were led by Tomislav Buljan with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Uriah Tenette added 14 points with a trio of threes.

The Cowboys return to action on Tuesday evening hosting UNLV in the Arena-Auditorium for an 8 p.m. start.