Unable to snatch their third consecutive win, the Denver Pioneers came up short on Tuesday night in a narrow loss to the Wyoming Cowboys, 71-61.
The Pioneers shot 53.5% from the field and managed to force 15 Wyoming turnovers, but allowed the Cowboys to score seemingly at will on the inside. In addition to posting an improbable 64.7% mark shooting as a team, Wyoming hit 8-of-12 shots from three-point range and missed only two of its 21 attempts from the free-throw line. Powered by a career-high 21 points from sophomore forward Larry Lance Jr. on Tuesday, the Cowboys currently remain without a blemish and sit at 11-0 on the season.
Despite the loss, Denver was led offensively by junior forward Chris Udofia, who tallied a season-high 26 points with a perfect 7-for-7 from the foul line. Udofia picked up the slack on a night when leading scorer Royce O'Neale (15.4 per game) attempted just seven shots and failed to reach his average with 12 points. Now winless in four attempts on the road this season, the Pioneers will return home to face off with Southern Utah this Friday at Magness Arena.