EL PASO, Texas A tough offensive night for Zeke Mayo and a late second-half run spelled trouble for South Dakota State as itdropped the first game of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational in a 78-65 to Wyoming on Wednesday night.
The first half was a game of runs as the Jackrabbits used a 10-1 lead to go ahead 12-6. Wyoming answered with a 16-2 run that gave the Cowboys a 22-14 lead with 10:44 before halftime.
Wyomings lead grew to as many as eight points but Charlie Easley scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half to help the Jacks go into halftime down 36-31.
Although SDSUs defense held Cowboys leading scorer Sam Griffin to nine points, it couldnt get their stars going as Mayo didnt get his first basket until a layup with 10:14 to play and Luke Appel was held to 13 points in 18 minutes due to foul trouble.
Kalen Garrys layup gave the Jacks a 51-49 lead with 8:49 to play but a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer by Mason Walters kickstarted a 12-0 run that gave Wyoming a 61-51 lead with 5:49 to play and put the Cowboys up for good.
Easley finished with five rebounds, four steals and two blocks to go with his 17 points while William Kyle III had 16 points and five rebounds.
Nate Barnhart had eight points and three blocks while Mayo had seven points and six rebounds.
SDSU shot 36 percent from the floor and 6-for-29 (21%) on 3-pointers. The Jacks were also out-rebounded 40-24 and committed 11 turnovers.
Wyoming shot 51 percent from the floor including 8-for-16 (50%) on 3-pointers while committing 13 turnovers.
SDSU fell to 6-6 on the season and will play Norfolk State in the third place game at 6 p.m. Thursday.
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