Nick Seeman
Assistant Athletic Director, Communications
University of Wyoming Athletics
The Wyoming Cowboys (21-3 overall, 10-1 MW) held San Jose State to 29.8 percent from the field and Graham Ike recorded a double-double with 25 points and 18 rebounds to push Wyoming past San Jose State 74-52 on Saturday evening in the Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose, Calif. The Pokes won their sixth-straight contest.
“At halftime I told the guys you can’t look at the scoreboard, SJSU is talented, and we knew we could wear them down, which we did,” UW head coach Jeff Linder said. “I challenged Graham at the half, and he came out and dominated in the second half. San Jose State is not an easy team to defend, but we made some adjustment we needed to make and defense travels and that’s how we have won this season.”
Wyoming dominated the second half of action holding the Spartans to 24 percent from the field and outscored the Spartans 41-23 in the second frame. The Cowboys shot 60 percent from the field in the second frame.
Ike led the Pokes with his 10th 20-plus scoring game of the season to lead the Pokes, as he added 25 points and 18 boards for his 10th double-double of the season. It was the most rebounds since Justin James had 20 at Evansville on Nov. 28, 2018. Hunter Maldonado added 23 points on the night with five assists.
Wyoming finished the contest outrebounding SJSU 45-25 for the largest margin of the season and first +20 rebound margin since Utah Valley on Nov. 30, 2011. The Pokes won the battle in the paint 38-18 and recorded 11 second chance points.
The Pokes got off to an early 8-2 lead in the opening minutes thanks to a three from Wenzel, and buckets from Ike and Maldonado. The Spartans would make it a 10-7 contest for the Pokes, but both teams would go scoreless for over four minutes until Omari Moore hit a three-pointer to tie the contest at 10-10 with 11 minutes left in the first half.
The Spartans added two more three pointers and took a 16-12 lead on the Pokes halfway through the half. The Pokes battled back and tied the game with freebies from Ike and a bucket from Maldonado a minute later.
San Jose State would take the lead on multiple occasions, but a three pointer from Oden gave Wyoming a 26-25 lead with 3:20 left in the half. But San Jose State took the lead back with their fifth three pointer of the game. The Pokes would close the half on a 7-0 run and take a 33-29 lead into the half. DuSell added a three-pointer along with a layup from Ike to highlight the run.
After a three-pointer by Wenzel to open the second half, Ike would go on a 9-2 run himself to help the Pokes build a lead as large as 11 points at 45-34 in the first four minutes of the half. Maldonado would get to double-figures with a layup for a 12-point game at 49-37 with 12:30 left in the game.
Drake Jeffries would get a fast break dunk that gave Wyoming a 53-40 lead halfway through the second half. The Pokes would push the lead to 15 on pair of occasion which included a jumper from Ike for a 62-47 game with under seven minutes.
Maldonado closed the game scoring eight points, as Wyoming would go on to win the game 74-52.
The Spartans were led by Myron Amery Jr, as he had 19 points in the contest.
Wyoming remains on the road, traveling to New Mexico on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip inside The Pit.
