LARAMIE — Wyoming and Air Force have a storied past of tight games, heartbreaking shots and wild finishes. Tuesday night’s game looked like it would be no different.
But then Cowboys seniors Sean Ogirri, Brandon Ewing and Tyson Johnson took over.
In a 72-59 win, Wyoming (14-6, 3-3 Mountain West) kept Air Force (9-10, 0-6) winless in the MWC and gave its coach, Heath Schroyer, his first win over the Falcons.
“It’s nice to see some of our hard work pay off and beat a quality team,” Schroyer said. “If you step back and see where this program was a year ago and where it is today, we have made a lot of strides.”
Since 2006, when the seniors were freshmen, the top point spread has been six points, except for the Feb. 6, 2007, game, when a majority of the Cowboys’ starting lineup was suspended. The games may have been close, but the Falcons swept the Cowboys the past two regular seasons.
When the Cowboys jumped out to an 8-2 lead, Air Force caught up. Falcons senior Matt Holland drained a 3-pointer and fellow senior Anwar Johnson added a layup to tie the game at 20.
It was a one-possession game for the next 10 minutes, spanning the five minutes before and after halftime, in which the Falcons led 32-31.
Cue the Wyoming seniors.
“Coming out of the huddle we said, ‘It’s time to come to the party,’ ” Schroyer said. “Those three guys stepped up and played well down the stretch.”
Ogirri, a Denver East High School product, broke up the one possession game with a 3-pointer, one of his four, and Ewing and Johnson followed suit.
Ewing used the free-throw line to make his living, hitting 11-of-14, all in the second half, and Johnson worked the inside to score a team-high 18 points.
“Coming into the second half we had to be more assertive,” Ogirri said. “We were letting Air Force pick their plays and that is what they’re good at. We need to stay on our toes and not play lazy.”
The Falcons, off to their worst conference start since the 1993-94 Western Athletic Conference season when they started 0-13, were led by senior Andrew Henke with 18 points.
The win over Air Force keeps the Cowboys 10-0 at the Arena-Auditorium, a fact Ogirri said is a must for a team wanting a championship season.
“To win a championship in this league we have to defend our home court.”
AIR FORCE (9-10, 0-6 MWC)
Holland 1-5 0-0 3, Johnson 4-12 2-2 10, Parker 4-6 0-2 9, Henke 7-14 0-1 18, Washington 1-6 2-2 4, Provost 0-1 0-0 0, Stewart 4-5 1-2 9, Merriex 0-0 0-0 0, Hempsey 2-3 0-0 4, McLain 0-0 0-0 0, Schafer 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-53 5-9 59.
WYOMING (14-6, 3-3)
Muojeke 5-8 4-4 16, Johnson 4-7 10-10 18, Waddell 0-0 0-2 0, Ogirri 5-11 0-0 14, Ewing 3-8 11-14 17, Thiam 0-1 1-3 1, Diakite 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 3-5 0-2 6. Totals 20-41 26-35 72.
Halftime — Air Force 32-31. 3-point goals — Air Force 6-20 (Henke 4-8, Parker 1-3, Holland 1-5, Provost 0-1, Hempsey 0-1, Stewart 0-1, Washington 0-1), Wyoming 6-17 (Ogirri 4-9, Muojeke 2-4, Davis 0-1, Ewing 0-3). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Air Force 26 (Holland 6), Wyoming 34 (Muojeke 10). Assists — Air Force 11 (Johnson 4), Wyoming 11 (Ewing 8). Total fouls — Air Force 23, Wyoming 17. A — 4,841.
