What. A. Game.
In a back-and-forth affair, the Wyoming Cowboys were the last team standing in a thrilling, 84-78 overtime win over the Colorado State Rams in a classic basketball Border War matchup in Laramie on Monday night.
The game featured 16 lead changes and 10 ties.
CSU led 50-44 with 12:41 left in regulation but Wyoming responded with a 24-12 run over the next 10:31 to go up 68-62 with 2:10 left in the second half.
The Rams were hardly finished. A 7-0 run put the Rams up 69-68 with under two minutes to go. After a CSU turnover, Wyoming's Graham Ike hit a pair of free throws to put Wyoming up 70-69 with six seconds left.
But CSU forward David Roddy drew a foul and hit the tying free throw with one second left in regulation to force overtime.
In the extra session, the teams were tied at 72, 74 and 76 before the Cowboys went on a 7-0 run to seal the game.
Hunter Maldonado led Wyoming with a career-high 35 points, becoming the first Cowboy to record back-to-back 30-point games in six years. He also had seven assists. Ike had 16 points and eight rebounds while Drake Jeffries added 16 points.
Roddy led CSU with 23 points. Isaiah Stevens tossed in 17 points and handed out five assists. John Tonje scored 15 points.
Wyoming is now 17-3 overall, 6-1 in Mountain West Conference play. Colorado State is 16-3, 6-3.
The Cowboys will be at home to play Boise St. on Thursday, February 3 at 7 p.m. MST. CSU hosts San Diego St. on Friday, February 4 at 7 p.m. MST.
The Rams and Cowboys will meet again on Wednesday, February 23 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
MORE ON THE WYOMING WIN HERE AND HERE
Postgame comments from CSU guards Isaiah Stevens (l) and John Tonje (r).
Postgame comments from CSU head coach Niko Medved.