March 3, 2007
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) – Brandon Ewing scored 20 points in leading Wyoming over New Mexico 76-67 Saturday in a rematch of two teams that were involved in a brawl during their first meeting in January.
Wyoming (16-14, 7-9 Mountain West Conference) got well ahead in the first half and New Mexico (15-16, 4-12) came no closer than nine points after that.
Ewing hit all nine of his free throws, including four in the final minute to help keep the Lobos out of reach despite baskets by Tony Danridge and David Kanyinda.
The Cowboys used an 18-4 run to go up 26-14 in the first half. The run began on a 3-pointer by Eric Platt that put the Cowboys ahead 11-10.
In the final minutes of the first half, Ewing made two baskets and three free throws to give Wyoming a 37-24 lead at intermission.
Early in the second half, Ewing scored another basket and two free throws for the Cowboys’ widest lead of the game, 43-26.
After Ewing, Platt scored 14 points and James Spencer had 13. Ike Okoye had eight rebounds.
New Mexico was led by J.R. Giddens’ 15 points. Giddens also had nine rebounds. Danridge had 13 points and Kanyinda 10 points.
The Cowboys out-shot the Lobos 57 percent to 49 percent.
A brawl broke out the last time the teams played, on Jan. 31 at New Mexico, and players from both teams were suspended for the game in Laramie: Wyoming’s Brad Jones, as well as New Mexico’s Jamaal Smith and Darren Prentice.
There was no fighting in Saturday’s game.