Larry Nance, Jr.
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Junior forward Larry Nance Jr. hit a baseline jumper with 1.6 seconds left to give the University of Wyoming men's basketball team a dramatic 52-50 win at Boise State on Saturday night in Taco Bell Arena. Nance posted his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, as the Cowboys (10-6, 1-2 MW) had their third-straight game come down to one basket.

"We called the same action the last three possessions and we had a counter to go to, the only thing we did was switch sides," UW head coach Larry Shyatt said. "We never had to go to [the counter], though, because we knocked the shot down. I've told the team the last two games, I love them to death. They maybe haven't got the credit they deserved the last two games, but tonight they get the credit because they executed."

After trailing by five with three minutes left, the Cowboys closed the game on a 9-2 run to hand the Broncos (11-5, 1-2 MW) their second home loss of the season. Nance had five points during the spurt and redshirt senior guard Jerron Granberry added the other four points, as Wyoming held Boise State to just two field goals over the last 9:30 of the game and 37 points under its season average at home. The Broncos had a chance with the last possession, but senior guard Nathan Sobey stole the inbounds pass to seal the Cowboy victory.

Nance's six double-double this season came on 6-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 beyond the arc and 3-of-4 at the free throw line, as he added three blocks, two steals and two assists. Sobey and Granberry both contributed 11 points, while sophomore guard Josh Adams had 10 points. The Cowboys outshot the Broncos in all three categories, going 46 percent (18-of-39) from the field, 25 percent (3-of-12) beyond the arc and 76 percent (13-of-17) at the free throw line. BSU connected on 32 percent (16-of-50), 17 percent (3-of-17) and 68 percent (15-of-22), respectively. Wyoming was outrebounded 33-26 and committed 17 turnovers to 14 for Boise State.

"The key to this game were 50-50 balls on the defensive glass," Shyatt said. "Sometimes stats can fool people. We got outrebounded, but we don't go the boards so we can slow down opponents on offensive. We got those 50-50 loose-ball rebounds tonight."

Boise State took the early advantage in a defensive first half. The Broncos led by as many as seven points midway through the half, before the Pokes went on an 8-2 run over the last four minutes to go into halftime up 25-23. Nance had nine points, three rebounds and two steals in the first half, while Granberry added six points on two threes. The Pokes shot 45 percent (9-of-20) from the field and 38 percent (3-of-8) beyond the arc, while allowing 33 percent (8-of-24) and 25 percent (3-of-12), respectively, for Boise State. The Broncos earned a 13-12 advantage in rebounds, 10-8 in turnovers and 10-3 in points off turnovers. BSU's 23 points in the first half were its lowest in any half this season.

The Cowboys led 25-23 at halftime and improved to 8-1 this season when ahead at the break, but the Broncos opened the second half with a 9-2 run to go in front by five at 32-27. Boise State would keep that advantage through the second half, until the closing spurt from the Cowboys.

Wyoming returns to Laramie to host San Jose State on Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. MT in the Arena-Auditorium.

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