(UW Media Relations Photo)
The Wyoming Cowboys were in firm control through much of their second meeting of the season with the Colorado State Rams–much like how the Cowboys had handled the Rams in the first meeting of the season, leading the entire way as they cruised to a 68-57 rivalry win.
Border War dub just means more 🤠💯 pic.twitter.com/pWvFmiRep1
— Wyoming Cowboy Basketball (@wyo_mbb) February 1, 2026
Everything looked right for the Cowboys in that first meeting between these two teams. The Cowboys shoot nearly 50% from deep, finishing 12-of-25 (48%) from three-point range while impeding the Rams’ three-point attack, holding their tally to just 4-of-23 (17%) from deep. The Cowboys were completely dominant defensively in the last meeting as well, finishing with five blocks and just edging out the Rams by a single rebound on the glass.
Both teams have had very different trajectories since that meeting in the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie on Jan. 31. The Rams notched two straight victories after falling to the Cowboys, beating both the bottom two teams in the league standings, Air Force and San Jose State.
The Cowboys, on the otherhand, went on to lose their following pair of games following their win over the Rams, taking on the top two teams in the league standings, San Diego State and Utah State.
For 32 minutes, it seemed as if the Cowboys were primed to snap their short losing streak and sweep the series between the Rams for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. The Cowboys led by as much as 10 points at different times throughout the second half, seemingly in control of the contest for much of the opening minutes of the second frame of play.
Look at @ddennis_1 ZOOM 🏎️💨 pic.twitter.com/GrRD7yu38A
— Wyoming Cowboy Basketball (@wyo_mbb) February 14, 2026
However, after leading 64-58 with just a little under eight minutes to go, things completely fell apart for the Cowboys. The Rams would completely overtake the game from that point, ending the contest on a 21-4 run to win the contest by a final of 79-68.
“I thought we played a really great brand of basketball for 31 minutes, [but] it’s a 40 minute game,” head coach Sundance Wicks said postgame.
“31 minutes of trust, toughness, togetherness, sticking to the game plan and then nine minutes of what I would call soft and selfish, and kind of hero ball.”
The Cowboys made just a single field goal through that final eight minute stretch of the second half, a main factor that contributed to the Rams’ big run to win the game late.
“I’m maniacal about a couple of things: shot selection and turnovers,” Wicks said. “There’s shots that can be turnovers, and so from that standpoint I was not happy with the shot selection down the stretch.
“…I’m watching those guys out there shooting shots that they would get on each other about in practice.”
The Cowboys ultimately ended the contest with only five actual turnovers–the lowest amount of turnovers the Cowboys have coughed up in a game this season. However, they were only able to shoot 9-of-29 (31%) from deep this time around. The Rams were incredibly efficient offensively, shooting 24-of-39 (62%) from the field while also shooting 30 free throws, compared to the Cowboys’ eight shots from the charity stripe. The Cowboys finished with 26 total fouls to the Rams’ 14.
“At our place, it was a really physical game and they let us play physical. Here, I thought they let one team play physical and the other team not. So, to that point, I’ll scratch my head on that one as well,” Wicks said.
Damarion Dennis led the way for the Cowboys with 21 points, scoring 20-plus points for the second straight contest. Khaden Bennett finished with a game-high nine rebounds while also chipping in 13 points.
The Cowboys return to home on Tuesday, taking on Fresno State where they will look to avoid being swept by the Bulldogs this season.
