LAS VEGAS — Colorado State overcame 29 points by Wyoming’s Brandon Ewing, a technical on coach Tim Miles and a 17-game losing streak today to pull off the school’s second upset in 24 hours in the play-in game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
The Rams’ Marcus Walker and Willis Gardner combined for four free throws in the final 28 seconds for a 68-63 win over the Cowboys.
CSU (7-24) will play league champ and top-seed BYU Thursday at 1 p.m.
Wyoming (12-18) started to pull away after halftime only to half CSU creep back. A layup by walk-on Adam Nigon and then his jumper gave CSU a 53-50 lead as Wyoming fell silent for five minutes after a Brad Jones basket with 11:08 left.
Walker finished with 22 points and freshman Andre McFarland a career-high 18 points. Ewing had 21 of his points before halftime.
Miles drew his first technical of the year protesting a call late in the first half that put Ewing on the line for four free throws, two for the Miles tech and two from the foul. He hit all four with 1:16 left in the first half to put Wyoming up 36-31.
CSU senior center Stuart Creason sat on the bench in street clothes and a boot on the foot he re-injured in the regular-season finale.
