Cowboys Rebound 25 Times But Fall 76-63 to North Carolina

The University of Wyoming men's basketball team lost 76-63 to North Carolina on Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Cowboys connected on only 36% of their field goal attempts in the defeat. Their opponent, the Tar Heels, shot 50% from the field and moved to a 3-0 record in their first season under head coach Michael Malone.

Wyoming held a 43-37 lead at halftime. The visitors dominated the glass in the first 20 minutes, securing 25 rebounds to North Carolina's 15. The Cowboys also grabbed 15 offensive boards in that period compared to five for the Tar Heels. Mike Mora led the team with eight rebounds. The Cowboys trailed by only two points with under two minutes remaining in the first half before a sequence of plays shifted momentum.

With 2:23 left in the first half, Uriyah Rojas made a pass that was intercepted by Matt Able. Able then dunked the ball at the other end. This was followed by a lob pass from Maximo Adams to Jarin Stevenson, who scored to energize the nearly 17,000 fans in the Dean Center. The Tar Heels scored five consecutive baskets to take a 31-29 lead into the break.

The second half saw a distinct drop in efficiency for the Cowboys. Naz Meyer finished with a team-high 17 points on 8-of-21 shooting. Renars Sondors added 12 points, including four three-pointers. Gavin Gores scored nine points, while Rojas finished with five. Khaden Bennett recorded two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Linus Ruf and Mike Mora both scored four points, and Parker Gerrits and Canin Jefferson each added three.

Head coach Sundance Wicks said the team's start to the second half was poor. He noted that Gavin Gores missed a fadeaway and a floater, while Naz Meyer attempted a foul play that did not result in a free throw. Bennett also missed two layups. Wicks described these as five empty possessions in the first four minutes of the second half.

Wicks said he needs his key players to perform at a higher level offensively. He specifically mentioned Gores, Meyer, and Bennett, stating that they must show up every night. The coach compared the matchup to a classic rivalry, noting that his team played hard enough to win but did not execute well enough to close the game.

The Cowboys will remain on the road for their next contest. They travel to Magness Arena in Denver on Saturday night to face the Denver Pioneers, who are currently winless. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

North Carolina's Isaiah Denis, Terrance Brown, Maximo Adams, and Sayon Keita all finished with double-digit scores. Matt Able also reached double figures in the 76-63 victory. The Tar Heels converted a dozen Wyoming turnovers into 20 points. The win marked the 600th game played inside the Dean Center.