(UW Media Relations Photo)
Shots again just didn’t seem to want to fall for the Wyoming Cowboys in their first National Invitation Tournament appearance since 2003.
The Cowboys shot less than 40% from the field and just 3-of-21 (14%) from distance against UNLV in their last outing, an unfortunate opening-round exit from the Mountain West tournament. It seemed as if those same offensive jitters followed the Cowboys to Wichita, Kansas, for their first-round matchup against the host Wichita State Shockers.
Before long, it felt more like deja vu — but it was more than just scoring woes that followed the Cowboys to their first-round NIT game. Their trademark resilience and toughness made the trip too.
Despite trailing the Shockers by double digits early in the second half, the Cowboys would not relent — even after shooting just 8-of-29 (27.6%) from the field in the opening half. Freshman Nasir Meyer would eventually steal a one-point lead after back-to-back 3-pointers, tipping the score 50-49 in favor of the Cowboys with around seven and a half minutes remaining.
📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/kNmbSzTJB2
— Wyoming Cowboy Basketball (@wyo_mbb) March 18, 2026
Just like their narrow defeat to UNLV a game ago, the end of this contest was turning into a dogfight.
“We responded in these two games in the second half,” senior Leland Walker said.
The Shockers would use a quick 5-0 spurt with a little under five minutes remaining to build a two-possession lead, which would ultimately prove to be the difference down the stretch. Meyer would hit a late 3-pointer to draw the Cowboys within two points, but a pair of free throws by the Shockers on the other end put this one away, the Shockers winning 74-70.
“If we just make two or three more free throws, it’s a different ballgame down the stretch,” Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks said. “But, all in all, couldn’t ask for a better fight to start the NIT.”
The Cowboys finished just 10-of-20 (50%) from the free-throw line and 25-of-65 (38.5%) from the field but were able to connect on 10 3-pointers.
Rebounding proved to be a massive difference in the contest as well, as the Shockers outrebounded the Cowboys 55-34. That came after the Shockers were only plus-4 on the glass at halftime.
“Hats off to Wichita State. Their physicality and rebounding were as advertised. That was the difference in the game for us, giving up 17 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points,” Wicks said, as the Shockers entered the contest fourth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game.
Though the season ended in a pair of narrow — but disappointing — losses, the Cowboys saw marked improvement in Year 2 under Wicks. The Cowboys finished with an 18-15 overall record for their first winning season since 2021-22. They also competed in the postseason for the first time since then.
“We had so many glimpses of really playing well, but it wasn’t consistent enough yet,” Wicks said. “Next year, we chase consistency over perfection, right?
“I thought we played some really perfect games this year that helped us win, but we don’t want perfection. I want consistency. We want the same thing over and over again. We want that progression line to just keep slowly trending up.”
