LARAMIE, Wyo. — A.J. Davis scored a career-high 26 points as Wyoming ran past Adams State in a 123-71 non-conference rout on Saturday.
Wyoming (7-7) was sluggish early against the Division II Grizzlies (3-8). Late in the first half, the Cowboys began wearing down Adams State with an aggressive full-court press.
The Cowboys forced 30 Adams State turnovers and scored 47 points off of those miscues.
"I thought in the second half, we probably played as well as we have all year," Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said. "I thought we shared the ball and that our pressure really took over."
Nick Fox scored 25 points for the Grizzlies, who shot 31 percent from the field (16-of-52).
Davis, who finished 8-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, scored 17 points in the first half as Wyoming used a 17-5 run in the final 4:43 to lead 53-36.
"In that first 16 minutes, we really controlled the tempo and were staying close," Adams State coach Mark Murdock said. "We didn't come out of the locker room ready to play in the second half, and the four-minute run ending the first half turned into a 24-minute run to end the game."
Wyoming outscored Adams State 87-41 over the final 24 minutes and shot 55 percent from the field (40-of-75) for the game, including 67 percent in the second half.
"We came out flat. We challenged them at that four-minute mark and we challenged them at halftime, and they really responded after that," Schroyer said.
Afam Muojeke scored 21 points for Wyoming, with Ryan Dermody and Djibril Thiam adding 19 points each. Desmar Jackson had 12 points for the Cowboys.
The game was slowed by 63 fouls called, resulting in 99 free throws attempted. The Cowboys were 34-of-49 from the free-throw line to 37-of-50 for Adams State.
AIR FORCE 72, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 65: At Air Force Academy, Colo., the Falcons were a team of walking wounded, having to play without four starters, including leading scorer Grant Parker. That wasn't about to stop them, however.
"Injuries are a part of the game and you have to play through them," said Air Force's Derek Brooks. "When you're sitting there and he tells you to be ready, you have to be ready."
Brooks scored a career-high 16 points and Mike McLain led the way with 25, also a career best, as Air Force dealt Texas-Pan American its ninth consecutive loss, 72-65, on Saturday night.
Brooks got 29 minutes of playing time as part of a group that made up for the absence of Parker, who sat out for a sixth straight game with a severe groin strain, as well as Sammy Schafer (concussion), Taylor Stewart (broken hand) and Avery Merriex (broken nose, concussion).
"I have been sitting there ready to play," Brooks said. "I know the plays and have been ready."
Evan Washington had 13 for the Falcons (8-5), winners of three of their last four games.
"We've got guys that have to step up and play," Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said. "I thought Derek Brooks came in and gave us a lift and Mike McLain came on and played really well."
Nick Weiermiller's 25 points led Texas-Pan American (1-14). Jared Maree added 13 for the Broncs, who last won on Nov. 27, when they defeated South Padre Island 67-64.
"We shot the ball really well early and I thought Air Force did some things defensively and made good adjustments," Texas Pan-American coach Ryan Marks said. "We got a little antsy down the stretch and they had a lot of poise offensively."
Trailing by four at the break despite making 50 percent of its shots, Air Force took its first lead, 36-34 on McLain's basket with 15:16 left in the second half and extended it to 42-34 on a fastbreak layup by Washington. The Broncs didn't have a field goal in the second half until Aaron Urbaus' 3-pointer with 10:25 remaining made it 44-38 Falcons.
McLain's short jumper and two free throws kept it a six-point game, but Weiermiller matched that to get the Broncs within 58-57 with 3:40 left. McLain made two more free throws and Brooks hit a shot from short range to make it a 64-57 game while Texas Pan-American turned the ball over three straight possessions.
"I had some open lanes and took what was given me," McLain said. "Whenever I had an opportunity to take the ball to the hoop, I did it."
"Everything is under a magnifying glass the last two minutes and you have to execute," Marks said.
The Broncs started fast, making 5-of-6 shots, all 3-pointers, to take a 17-12 lead. Brooks made two free throws to tie it at 27, but Matt Mierzycki and Maree had three points each in the final 1:34 to put Texas Pan-American up 33-29 at halftime.
Texas-Pan American has lost all 10 of its road games. They have dropped five straight to Air Force, last beating the Falcons on Feb. 16, 2004.
TCU 70, RICE 58: At Fort Worth, Texas, Kevin Butler scored 18 points and TCU pulled away from Rice early. Nikola Cerina added 15 points, Zvonko Buljan 12 and Xavier Roberson 11 for the Horned Frogs (7-7). Butler and Cerina were a combined 14-of-16 from the field. Arsalan Kazemi scored 14 points for the Owls. He was their only player in double figures.
With the game tied 5-all, TCU scored eight straight points for a 13-5 advantage with 15:18 remaining in the first half. A 3-pointer by Edvinas Ruzgas pushed the Horned Frogs' lead to double digits, 20-9, with 12:47 left, and they led 37-28 at halftime.
TCU scored the first eight points of the second half, and Rice didn't get closer than 12 the rest of the way.