Wyoming fends off Southeastern Louisiana in US-based Cancun Challenge thriller

WYOMING 64, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 61

LARAMIE, WY – Jordan Nesbitt scored 13 points and added 15 rebounds for Wyoming in Friday’s US-based game of the Cancun Challenge, moving past Southeastern Louisiana.

The Cowboys (4-1) had a 10-point lead at halftime but saw the Lions (2-3) come all the way back to take a 43-41 lead with 11:49 to go in the second half on a jumper from Jakevion Buckley. Nesbitt hit a 3-pointer for Wyoming to push his team ahead, 54-52 with 3:37 to go.

Brody Rowbury’s two free throws for SLU pulled the Lions within 59-56 at the 1:04 mark, but the Cowboys got a huge layup from Touko Tainamo to make it 60-56 with 41 seconds remaining. Free throws by A.J. Wills and Obi Agbim kept Wyoming in front; Kam Burton hit a late 3-pointer for Southeastern Louisiana, and SLU’s final long-range look was off target at the buzzer.

Agbim finished with 11 points. Wyoming was just 19-for-33 from the free-throw line and committed 16 turnovers but enjoyed a 52-30 lead in rebounds.

SLU missed its first seven shots and was 1-for-14 from the field before getting untracked. The Lions committed 14 fouls, but Wyoming missed a chance to build a bigger lead by going just 8-for-16 from the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes.

Burton scored 20 points for SLU, and Sam Hines Jr. added 11 points.

The Cancun Challenge games at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya begin Tuesday; Wyoming will face Tulane in the Riviera Division, and SLU takes on Gardner-Webb in the Mayan Division.

‍