Wyoming Wins Big in Exhibition Game

Wyoming didn’t have any trouble finding ways to score against Regis Saturday. After a shaky start, the Pokes never looked back, routing the Rangers 88-62.

It was just an exhibition game, and they probably won’t get as many open shots in the regular season, but the Cowboys looked more than comfortable with their new offense.

Ryan Dermody and Brad Jones each scored 15 points as Wyoming rolled over Division II Regis University 88-62 in Laramie today.

The Pokes shot 54.5 percent from the field and knocked down eight three-pointers, taking advantage of the space their new four-out, one-in offense provides.

“I think that you will see as the season goes on that our…offense will help Brad and Brandon (Ewing) find more space on the floor,” said head coach Heath Schroyer. “Not only to get open looks at the basket but also to penetrate, get in the paint and kick it out.”

Ewing finished with 10 points and six assists, and the Pokes got 34 points from their bench as Schroyer rotated 13 players.

“Overall tonight we wanted playing time for everyone,” he said, “to see different combinations and to get a good gauge of where we are.”

But Schroyer said the large rotation was also a preview of things to come.

“I want to play at least ten,” he said. “There will be some nights we might play nine, but we definitely want to play a lot of guys.”

After averaging just 2.9 points per game last season, Dermody jumped out to a quick start against the Rangers, hitting four of his first six shots and scoring 12 points, including three three-pointers in the first 10 minutes.

“I was really happy for Derm, especially that he came out and knocked down some shots,” Schroyer said. “He’s going to be a huge part of this program for the next three years.

“I think this is just a peek (at) what Ryan can do.”

Dermody finished with four rebounds and four blocks before fouling out with seven minutes left in the game.

“I was just really excited for us to get out there and show our fans our new system,” he said. “It was just exciting to play against someone else besides each other.”

That new system created enough space for the Cowboys’ scorers to get good looks, and even without sharp-shooting wing man Eric Platt (who sat out with shin splints) the Pokes piled up 19 assists on 30 made field goals.

“One of our goals is to have 60 percent of our field goals from assists,” Schroyer said. “We accomplished that goal today.”

“In practice, we shoot over 2,000 jump shots a day,” Ewing said. “Those are the looks that we usually get in practice (and) we always knock them down, so in games, it’s just second nature getting those open looks. It’s just about knocking them down.”

Regis jumped out to an early 10-9 lead after Wyoming turned the ball over four times in the first six minutes. But a dunk by Mikhail Linskens followed by a three-pointer from Joseph Taylor gave the Pokes a 14-10 lead with 12:51 remaining, and they never trailed again.

“Too quick, too talented, too good,” Regis head coach Lonnie Porter said of the Cowboys. “We didn’t put up much of a fight. I was disappointed in our effort.”

The only area the Cowboys didn’t dominate was the turnover battle. Wyoming gave up 21 turnovers to 17 from Regis.

“There were a lot of those that we could control,” Schroyer said. “Like any coach in America, we still have a lot to do in practice, but we did see some good things out there today.”

The Cowboys more than made up for their turnovers with hot shooting. Dermody’s third three-pointer with 10:54 remaining in the first half gave Wyoming a 23-15 lead, and Ewing hit back-to-back threes just five minutes later to extend the lead to 37-23. Another three-pointer, this time from Travis Bunker, gave the Pokes a 42-27 halftime advantage.

“This is our first time really running our offense live,” said Jones, who added six assists and seven rebounds to his 15 points. “And you can see how much this offense is going to help shooters like Ryan Dermody and Travis Bunker, Eric Platt when he gets back. Basically these guys are unguardable on the wings if me and Brandon are creating outside and just going to the hole and getting them open shots.

“The guys coming off the bench helped us a lot….(There are) a lot of young guys coming in just getting a feel for the arena, the atmosphere and the fans, and I think it’s going to help them a lot.”

Wyoming scored eight unanswered points to start the second half and never looked back. Travis Nelson scored five straight and Bunker hit another three as the Cowboys opened up a 50-27 lead with 18:10 remaining.

Nelson finished with 12 points on five-of-six shooting, and Taylor added five points and eight rebounds. Marios Matalon added five assists and six points off the bench, going three-of-three from the field.