Conference Play Is Here For University of Wyoming Basketball Teams

The Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls begin play in the Mountain West today, as they take on UNLV in the conference opener for both schools.

The Cowboys will host the Runnin' Rebels at 7 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium. The Cowgirls are on the road in Las Vegas to face the Rebels at 3 p.m. in Cox Pavilion.

Cowboy Basketball

The Pokes are off to a good start with an 11-2 record this season, while UNLV enters league play with an 8-3 mark.

Senior forward Larry Nance Jr. said,

"They're a young team that feeds off energy plays. They feed off shot blocks, dunks... if we can just make it a very slow, monotonous game, their gonna lose interest; and they're gonna struggle with that."

The Rebels have won six straight in the series. The last two have been decided by six total points. Wyoming's last win over UNLV in men's basketball was February 4, 2012 in Laramie, 68-66.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. You can listen to the game on Y95 Country (FM 95.1) with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. The first edition of Cowboy Talk for the basketball season will follow the broadcast.

Cowgirl Basketball

The Cowgirls come into MW action with a 5-5 record. The UNLV women are 3-8, but head coach Joe Legerski said the Rebels record is deceptive based upon the schedule they've played.

Junior guard Marquelle Dent said, "We've just got to come out with energy, I think. Whenever we come out with energy on the road, we have a very high percentage chance of winning. Coach (Legerski) always talks about that; just bringing the energy and making sure we're playing hard on the road."

UW has won four straight in the series, including 82-56 last season in Laramie. The Cowgirls did not travel to Las Vegas last season.

The game is set for a 3 p.m. start, Mountain Time. You can listen to Cowgirls basketball on KOWB (AM 1290), with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.