PHOENIX (Interstat) — The Wyoming Cowboys defeated the Grand Canyon Antelopes 70-65 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Grand Canyon University Arena. Wyoming used a strong second half to secure the road win after the teams were tied 28-28 at halftime. The Cowboys’ defense was pivotal, forcing 14 turnovers which they converted into 17 points. Grand Canyon’s Makaih Williams led all scorers with 29 points in the loss. Wyoming improved to 15-12 overall, while Grand Canyon fell to 16-10. Attendance was 7,315.

PHOENIX (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and a decisive late surge, the Wyoming Cowboys avenged an earlier season loss by edging the Grand Canyon Antelopes 70-65 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday night at a raucous Grand Canyon University Arena. A season-high crowd of 7,315 saw the Cowboys improve to 15-12 overall, while the Antelopes fell to 16-10. The victory was a stark reversal from the teams’ first meeting on Dec. 20, which Grand Canyon won by 12 points in Laramie. The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the final three minutes. With the score knotted at 55 and the outcome hanging in the balance, Wyoming’s defense stiffened and its offense executed under pressure. The Cowboys closed the game on a 15-10 run, with eight of those points coming from the free-throw line. Leland Walker, who finished with 13 points and four assists, converted two crucial free throws with two seconds remaining to seal the five-point margin. The game was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams locked at 28 at halftime. Wyoming’s defensive identity, built on creating turnovers and limiting clean looks, proved the difference. The Cowboys forced 14 Grand Canyon turnovers, converting them into 17 points, while committing only nine of their own. Wyoming also recorded eight steals to Grand Canyon’s four. Offensively, neither team shot efficiently. Wyoming made 24 of 60 attempts from the field, a 40 percent clip, while Grand Canyon was slightly better at 22 of 54, or 40.7 percent. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Wyoming hitting 8 of 30 and Grand Canyon 7 of 20. The teams were identical at the free-throw line, each making 14 of 19 attempts. The statistical dead heat made the disparity in ball security and playmaking the deciding factors. Wyoming dished out eight assists to Grand Canyon’s four, and the Cowboys’ offensive rating of 104.4 points per 100 possessions narrowly bested the Antelopes’ 97.0, as both teams had exactly 67 possessions. Grand Canyon was led by a spectacular 29-point performance from guard Makaih Williams, who kept the Antelopes in contention with several difficult shots. Jaden Henley added 15 points and five assists for the home team. Wyoming countered with a more balanced attack. Alongside Walker’s steady hand, forward Simm Saadi provided a vital spark off the bench with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Nasir Meyer added 11 points and three steals, and Khaden Bennett chipped in nine points, three assists and three steals. The Antelopes held a slim 28-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 10-3 edge in fast-break points, but they could not overcome Wyoming’s disruptive defense down the stretch. The Cowboys also won the battle on the offensive glass, 11-10, leading to 13 second-chance points. The win gives Wyoming momentum as it heads into the final stretch of its conference schedule, which continues Tuesday at Boise State. Grand Canyon, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, looks to rebound Wednesday when it hosts UNLV.

PHOENIX (Interstat) — The Grand Canyon Antelopes look to protect their home court and solidify their postseason resume when they host the Wyoming Cowboys in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at GCU Arena. The Antelopes (16-9) enter with momentum after a 73-63 road victory over San Diego State on Tuesday. They have won four of their last six games. Guard Jaden Henley has been the catalyst, averaging 19.3 points over his last three contests, including a 21-point effort against the Aztecs. Wyoming (14-12) snapped a three-game skid with a 92-82 home win over Fresno State on Tuesday. The Cowboys are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and have struggled on the road, where they are 3-7 this season. This game is a rematch from Dec. 20, when Grand Canyon secured an 82-70 victory in Laramie. Henley scored 18 points in that win for the Antelopes. A key matchup will feature the teams’ top scoring guards. Wyoming’s Nasir Meyer is coming off a season-high 22 points in the win over Fresno State. For Grand Canyon, Henley has been a consistent force, logging 35 minutes or more in five of the last seven games while shouldering a heavy offensive load. Grand Canyon has been strong at home this season, posting an 11-2 record at GCU Arena. Wyoming will need to find scoring beyond Meyer, as evidenced by their 2-5 record in games where he scores 12 points or fewer. The Antelopes’ upcoming schedule includes a quick turnaround with a home game against UNLV next Wednesday. Wyoming continues a tough stretch, visiting Boise State next Tuesday. Saturday’s tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST at the sold-out, 7,000-seat GCU Arena, where the Antelopes will aim to use their home-court advantage to avenge last season’s loss and improve their tournament positioning.