Cardiac Cowboys Never Say Die

Great teams know how to win ugly.  And this year's Wyoming Cowboys basketball team is shaping up to be one for the ages.  Saturday's improbable overtime win versus New Mexico wasn't pretty, but it's a game Wyoming fans won't soon forget.

Coming off a gritty triple overtime win on the road at Fresno State, where Wyoming had never won, the Pokes entered Saturday's game having lost their last 8 meetings with the Lobos.  And like last weekend's thriller in Fresno, it looked as if UW had finally run out of luck.

Trailing by three in the waning seconds, Josh Adams drew a foul going up for the game tying shot.  He calmly sunk all three free throws to even the score.  The Cowboys were almost able to pull off a miracle win at the end of regulation, when Larry Nance Jr's halfcourt heave rimmed in and out at the buzzer.

New Mexico jumped out to an early lead in the overtime session.  Once again,  it appeared as if the Pokes had squandered a golden opportunity to steal a game they shouldn't have won.  But these Cardiac Cowboys never say die.  They methodically chipped away at New Mexico's five point advantage, narrowing the lead to one point with less than 20 seconds remaining in OT.

Then, in what will go down as one of the most exciting plays in program history, Nance Jr. intercepted a pass at midcourt and dove to keep the ball in bound.  As Wyoming scrambled for the last shot, Nance Jr. cut towards the basket and Riley Grabau found him for the game winning dunk.  The thousands of fans in attendance went bonkers.

The win catapulted the Cowboys into sole possession of first place in the Mountain West, moving their record to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in conference.  If, and when, Wyoming receives an invite to the big dance in March, Pokes fans will able to look back on this game and remember the remarkable grit and determination that helped get them there.