Wyoming defeats S Dakota St 72-87
Wyoming Edges Out S Dakota St 87-72 in Non-Conference Showdown
The visiting Wyoming Cowboys brought their high-powered offense to the Sanford Pentagon, where they faced off against host S Dakota St on Tuesday night. The Cowboys came out on top, defeating the home team by a margin of 15 points.
At halftime, the away team was leading 29-40, but Wyoming's potent shooting attack proved too much for S Dakota St to handle in the second half. The largest lead of the game was 23 points, which Wyoming held onto until the end of regulation.
Nasir Meyer led the way for Wyoming with 25 points on 4-6 three-pointers and a staggering 71.4% field goal percentage. Khaden Bennett chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Leland Walker dished out five assists to keep the Cowboys' offense moving at full speed.
S Dakota St's Joe Sayler was the team's lone bright spot, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds before fouling out of the game. Kalen Garry added 15 points, but his four three-pointers were only marginally effective against Wyoming's defense.
The game was a statistical battle from start to finish, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm early on. S Dakota St shot just 40% from the field in the first half, while Wyoming countered with a 47% effort. However, it was Wyoming that gained an advantage in the second half, shooting 54% from the floor and forcing 11 turnovers.
The Cowboys' offense proved to be too much for S Dakota St's defense to handle, as they outscored their hosts 34-22 in the paint. The visitors also got more than enough from their three-pointers, connecting on 10 of 24 attempts to keep S Dakota St at bay.
In the end, Wyoming's balanced attack and stifling defense were too much for S Dakota St to overcome. The Cowboys' win marked their third straight over non-conference opponents, while S Dakota St fell to 5-2 on the season.
Box Score
* Wyoming (AWAY): 87 points, 30/56 FG, 10/24 3PT, 17/20 FT
+ Nasir Meyer: 25 points, 4-6 3PT, 71.4% FG
+ Khaden Bennett: 11 points, 9 rebounds
+ Leland Walker: 5 assists
* S Dakota St (HOME): 72 points, 22/55 FG, 10/26 3PT, 18/24 FT
+ Kalen Garry: 15 points, 4-5 3PT, 62.5% FG
+ Joe Sayler: 12 points, 5 rebounds