LERAMIE, WY. – Sophomore Keaston Willis and Freshman Josh Morgan record season-highs in points for the second game in a row, and sophomore Marcus Larsson grabbed a career-high ten rebounds on the defensive side, but a late run by Wyoming in regulation and a 16-5 edge in overtime by the Cowboys, dealt a loss to the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals, 94-83, on Wednesday night.

Willis scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 3-of-3 from the line while also hauling in a career-high eight rebounds in 41 minutes of work. Morgan lit up the scoreboard from the bench again, connecting on his first four 3-point attempts in the game and finished with 18 points, 7-of-12 shooting and 4-of-5 from long distance as the Cardinals led for 32 minutes in the game, before falling late to the cardiac Cowboys.

The Cardinals ran with Willis, as the standout sophomore led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, and seven rebounds as Morgan added eight points and Larsson scored four points and five boards. After a sluggish start, UIW found its offensive rhythm and closed the first half with a 33-27 lead. UIW shot 43 percent (12-of-28) from the floor and 67 percent (6-of-9) from the line.

The Cardinals' 6-0 run in three minutes, capped by a Willis jumper with 9:37 left to play, gave UIW a 17-10 lead that it carried on through the half. The red and black twice hit a nine-point lead, once at the six-minute mark after redshirt sophomore Brandon Swaby hit the front end of a pair of free throws to make it 24-15. Junior Bradley Akhile made it another nine-point lead at the 2:45 mark with a jumper of his own.

UIW grabbed 21 rebounds and forced six turnovers in the first half as the Cardinals smothered Wyoming's offense that shot just 30 percent (9-of-30) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-15) from long range and 50 percent (5-of-10) from the free throw line.

The Cardinals held a ten-point lead for much of the second half with Morgan nailing a trey, freshman GG Ezedinma added a turnaround jumper as the shot clock expired with eight minutes to play and Morgan hitting his fourth consecutive 3-pointer to stretch UIW's lead to 11 (63-54) with 7:17 on the clock.

In desperation as time was winding down, Wyoming put pressure on with the full-court press and tore up an 11-0 run with five minutes to play.

Little by little, Wyoming capitalized on UIW's miscues and tied the game at 68 with 4:13 left as Hunter Thompson drove in the paint for a layup off a turnover. A couple more turnovers and fast-break layups gave the Cowboys a 76-73 lead with 40 ticks left.

After Kwane Marble III went to the line and sunk both free throw attempts, sophomore Drew Lutz hit a clutch three to tie the game at 78 and send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Wyoming found its third gear and slipped past the Cardinals as Kenny Foster erupted for eight points and the Cowboys outscored UIW 16-5 in the extra period.

Swaby finished the night with a season-high eight points and redshirt senior, Des Balentine pitched in with eight points and a career-high five assists.

Wyoming benefitted from five players – four off the bench – in double-figures as Kenny Foster scored 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 3-of-3 from deep and 6-of-7 at the line. Marcus Williams added 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 8-of-9 from the free throw line, Marbel III finished with 12 and Xavier DuSell with 11.

COACH CUNNINGHAM SAID:

"The guys battled. It's frustrating to lose, but we still got better today. I was impressed with the fellas' effort and grit. We gotta give Wyoming credit, they were able to hit some big shots. We know we have to keep working and continue to grind every day."

LOOKING AHEAD

UIW looks to bounce back with a visit to Texas State on Saturday, tip-off set for 2 p.m. CT. The Cardinals will be back at the McDermott Center a week later, on Saturday, Dec. 14, to host Grambling State at 1 p.m. CT.

FOLLOW ALONG

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