Hayden Dalton scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but the Wyoming Cowboys fell short in Las Vegas to the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Saturday night, 85-70.

The Cowboys rallied from a 21-point deficit in the first half, but gave the lead right back. With UW in front 50-49, the Rebels went on a 14-3 run and took a 63-53 lead with just under 12 minutes left.

Wyoming got no closer than eight the rest of the way and lost for the 16th straight time in Las Vegas. Their last victory there was Feb. 1, 2003 (90-80).

Cowboys head coach Allen Edwards said in a release from the University of Wyoming,

“With every opponent in this league you have to expect their best shot. I thought the hole was pretty big early on, but what I told the team at halftime was we cut the deficit down to 10 points and by playing our brand of basketball. In the second half, we came out with great energy and took the lead. But give (UNLV) coach Menzies and his club credit, they did not panic and continued to play the game. It was a fight, and we started to foul a little early. What we need to understand is to seize the moment when it comes.”

UNLV started the game up 11-0. That lead grew to 19-2. The biggest margin was at 43-22. The Cowboys rallied with a 13-2 run at the end of the half, when it was 45-35 Rebels at the break.

UW opened the second half on a 15-4 run, and Dalton’s tip-in gave the Pokes their only lead at 50-49. UNLV scored seven straight and took the lead back. The Rebels made 11-14 foul shots in the final five minutes that put the game away.

Wyoming (16-9, 7-5) fell into a three-way tie for third in the Mountain West standings. Justin James added 14 points and seven rebounds. Alexander Aka Gorski chipped in 11. The Cowboys shot 36 percent for the game.

UNLV (18-7, 7-5) was led by Shakur Juiston with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Brandon McCoy added 19 points and 15 boards. The Rebels shot 46 percent from the field.

The Pokes will stay on the road for their next game, as they play at San Diego State Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Noteworthy

Dalton became the 38th player in school history with 1,000 career points. He made a three-pointer at the 12:02 mark of the first half. It is just the second time in Wyoming basketball history that three players on the same team have 1,000 career points. Dalton joined Justin James and Alan Herndon, who reached that distinction earlier this season. The last time UW had three players reach 1,000 career points in the same season was in 1996-97 when LaDrell Whitehead, Jeron Roberts and HL Coleman accomplished the feat.

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