Christian Behrens added 12 points and matched Wallace with a team-high eight rebounds while Jordan Mathews had seven points for California (8-1), which improved to 5-0 at home. The Golden Bears, who came into the contest averaging 73.6 points per outing, shot 36.5 percent from the field and hit their season low by 10 points.
Larry Nance Jr. had 13 points and 11 rebounds – his first double-double of the season – for Wyoming (8-2), which has lost both of its road games this season. The Cowboys, who also received eight points from Charles Hankerson Jr., hit a season low in points while shooting a season-worst 32.6 percent from the field, including 4-of-15 from 3-point range.
California outscored Wyoming 18-10 over the opening 10 minutes of the second half to take a 33-26 lead, but Wyoming pulled to within 41-39 on a Nance layup with three minutes to play. After several missed opportunities on both ends, the Cowboys had possession with a chance to tie or pull ahead with 30 seconds remaining, but Wallace reached around and poked the ball away from Josh Adams and wound up with the fast-break layup on the other end to put the hosts ahead 43-39 and seal the win.
Both teams shot below 30 percent from the field, including a combined 4-of-17 from 3-point range, in a ragged first half. After California had erased a 14-11 Wyoming lead with a mini 4-0 run, Nance’s dunk with a little less than 1:45 remaining gave the visitors a 16-15 advantage at the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: California is 8-1 for the first time since 2001-02. … The victory was the Golden Bears’ 15th straight home nonconference win. … Wyoming has held seven of its 10 opponents to 50 points or fewer.
Wyoming | California | |
Larry Nance Jr. 13 | Scoring | Tyrone Wallace 17 |
Charles Hankerson Jr. 3 | Assists | Tyrone Wallace 5 |
Larry Nance Jr. 11 | Rebounds | Christian Behrens 8 |
Larry Nance Jr. 3 | Free Throws Made | Christian Behrens 2 |
Larry Nance Jr. 2 | Steals | Tyrone Wallace 3 |
Alan Herndon 1 | Blocks | Christian Behrens 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Wyoming | 42 | 32.6 | 4-15 | 8-11 | 8 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
California | 45 | 36.5 | 4-12 | 3-7 | 11 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 8 |