Wyoming Defeats Regis 95-48 in Season Opener
The Cowboys outscored the Rangers 32-12 in the second half, capped by a strong rebounding effort from rookie guard Madden Smiley.
By Allison Rojas ·
Wyoming basketball fans saw a sharp change in intensity during the second half of the season opener on Wednesday night. The Cowboys defeated visiting Regis 95-48 inside the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie. While the first half was described as flat, the team dominated the final 20 minutes, outscoring the Rangers 32-12 to secure the victory.
Head coach Sundance Wicks had criticized the team's effort after a recent exhibition loss to the College of Idaho. He stated that the culture was missing from the home sideline and that the players were not gritty enough. Wicks said the team's effort spiked in the second half against Regis, marking the hardest he had seen them play during the preseason.
The statistical difference was stark in the final frame. Wyoming limited Regis to eight field goals on 23 attempts. The visitors committed nine turnovers, which Wyoming converted into 16 points. The Cowboys controlled the paint, holding a 32-12 advantage in points in the paint and a 23-7 lead in rebounds. Fast breaks accounted for 16 of Wyoming's second-half points, while Regis scored zero in the transition.
Six players scored in double figures for Wyoming. Khaden Bennett led the team with 15 points and six rebounds. Gavin Gores added 10 points and five rebounds. Parker Gerrits contributed 12 points in his debut for the program. Naz Meyer scored 11 points, and Linus Ruf matched Gores with 10 points and five rebounds. Canin Jefferson added nine points and four assists.
Rookie guard Madden Smiley played 21 minutes and recorded a team-high eight rebounds. Forward Mike Mora, playing in his first game in the brown and gold, scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Mora noted that the team was flat in the first half but found energy in the second, specifically praising Smiley's rebounding.
Bennett played against his younger brother, Bryce Bennett, who is a freshman at Regis. Khaden Bennett hit a three-pointer against his brother early in the game. Bryce finished with five points, three assists, and three rebounds. Khaden called it a special night for the family from Mansfield, Texas.
The Cowboys shoot 55% from the field and made 7-of-16 three-point attempts in the win. The team travels next to face Idaho State on Friday night. The tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on MW+.
