Luster Leads Cowboys to 10th Win

Behind JayDee Luster's career-high 18 points and some timely 3-pointers in the second half, the Wyoming Cowboys won their eighth straight, as they survived the UC Irvine Anteaters, 58-48, Tuesday night at the Arena-Auditorium. Luster and Leonard Washington both hit key 3's during a game-ending 13-6 run.

The win brings Wyoming's record to 10-1, matching their wins total from last year, as the Cowboys continue to buckle down on defense. The Pokes have yet to let an opponent score over 60 points and only one team has been able to shoot over 40 percent.  The Anteaters had scored 75 and 99 points their last two games, both victories.

I don't know what was the reason for the trials and tribulations of the last two years, but we try not to worry about the past.  We've just been coming together everyday and really working hard.
-Sr. JayDee Luster

The Cowboys began the game on an 11-2 run, but two offensive droughts that lasted 3:44 and 4:23 allowed UC Irvine to get back in the game. Wyoming managed to hold on to a 22-19 lead at the break.  The Pokes opened the second half on a 15-6 run and built a 10-point lead at 37-27 behind two 3's from Luster, a Luke Martinez 3 and 3-point play.  The Anteaters wouldn't go away, as they chipped the lead down to two, at 39-37.

Wyoming stretched it out to an eight-point edge, at 45-37, but back came UC Irvine, as they cut it to 45-42. Then, Luster hit a big 3 with 4:12 left, and on UW's next possession Washington hit a 3 as the shot clock expired with 3:07 remaining. Those two shots propelled the Cowboys to the 10-point win.

Wyoming shot 45.7 percent (21-46) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-21) from 3-point range, and 64.3 percent (9-14) from the charity stripe. Martinez was the only other Cowboy in double figures with 13 points. Francisco Cruz added 9, and Washington had 7 points to go with 8 rebounds.

UC-Irvine (2-7) out-rebounded Wyoming 36-27, with 13 offensive boards, but were held to 37.7 percent (20-53) shooting from the field. They went 30.8 percent (4-13) from beyond the arc and 57.1 percent from the free throw line. The Anteaters were led by Derick Flowers with 9 points, while Adam Folker had 8 points and 6 rebounds.

UW will play in Laramie on Friday, Dec. 16th against the University of Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium. Coverage will begin on KCGY-FM (95.1) at 6:30 p.m.