USU falls in OT at Wyoming
On January 15, 2022, Utah State welcomed the Wyoming Cowboys to the Spectrum. What ensued was a 40-minute back and forth that came down to a game-winning layup from Wyoming forward Graham Ike with 3 seconds left.
Tuesday night in an overtime contest in Laramie, the Aggies were left heartbroken again. Ike had a game-winning bucket once more and put up 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cowboys past the Aggies 78-76.
“We knew it was going to be a battle and a super emotional, super intense game,” senior Justin Bean said following the loss. “I thought we battled, gave it our all and we gave ourselves chances to win at the end of regulation and in overtime. We just didn’t execute on a few things.”
Being played later in the season, the intensity of the second matchup between the two schools was raised. Wyoming head coach Jeff Linder who was assessed double technicals and ejected just 4:10 into the game.
Utah State led for a significant portion of the first half with Ike sitting with two fouls for most of the period. Ike had four points during just four minutes of play in the first half. The Aggies took a 40-36 lead into halftime behind forward Brandon Horvath’s 16 first-half points. With Ike on the bench, Horvath was able to have his way underneath.
Coming out of the break Utah State went on an 8-2 run to stretch their lead to 10. Wyoming responded with a 6-0 run of their own, all six points coming from Ike. The teams traded shots throughout the second half in a game that saw 17 total lead changes.
With under 20 seconds remaining the Aggies had a two-point lead. A Wyoming miss presented an opportunity for USU to shoot free throws for the win, but a loose ball foul was given to Horvath with 17 seconds remaining. Ike hit both shots to tie the game. Utah State had the last possession but was unable to get a shot off and the game went to overtime.
With 35 seconds left in overtime, the game was tied. A Wyoming 3-pointer went off the back iron and ended it up in the hands of Ike. It was déjà vu for the Aggies as Ike gathered, elevated and banked the ball of the glass to give Wyoming the lead with six seconds remaining. Rylan Jones’ floater at the buzzer fell short and the Aggies were handed their tenth loss of the year.
“Obviously a tough loss. Wyoming made the plays down the stretch and throughout to kind of make it happen and get themselves over the top,” head coach Ryan Odom said. “There were winning plays out there to be had that we just didn’t make.”
Tonight was the first of three remaining quad one games for the Aggies. Their next opportunity will come next Tuesday night at San Diego State after a Friday night game at home against the Nevada Wolf Pack. The next three games will prove critical for Utah State to determine Mountain West Tournament seeding and NCAA Tournament hopes.