Wyoming Faces Fresno State in Crucial Mountain West Clash

FRESNO, Calif. — A pivotal matchup in the Mountain West Conference pits the struggling Wyoming Cowboys against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Save Mart Center. This will mark the final regular season game for both teams, with each seeking to gain momentum ahead of the conference tournament.

The Cowboys (12-18, 5-12 MWC) come into the contest on the heels of a close 72-69 defeat to San Diego State. Leading scorer Obi Agbim has been in impressive form, scoring a season-high 21 points in that game, and he is expected to key Wyoming’s efforts on the boards.

Meanwhile, Fresno State (5-24, 1-16 MWC) is struggling after a narrow 66-61 loss to Boise State in its last outing. The Bulldogs have faced challenges throughout the season, including a dismal 45.6% rebounding rate, ranking 344th in the nation. Coach Justin Hutson highlighted the need for improvement: “We have to fight for every rebound and limit second-chance opportunities for Wyoming.”

Statistics show a stark difference between the two squads. Wyoming boasts a rebounding percentage of 116th nationally compared to Fresno State’s woeful 344th position. As a result, the Cowboys are expected to capitalize on this disadvantage and control the tempo of the game.

“We’ve analyzed the data and the trends point to Wyoming being the favored team,” said Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer of Dimers, a sports prediction platform. “We project a 56% win probability for Wyoming against Fresno State, who we see struggling defensively.”

In their previous encounter, Wyoming secured a 70-69 victory over the Bulldogs earlier in the season. If Agbim and fellow contributor Alex Crawford, who has scored 14+ points in two of his last three games, can replicate their performance, Wyoming will be positioned well for another victory.

The game is set for 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can expect a fierce showdown as both teams look to end their seasons on a high note. The odds show Wyoming as a small favorite, with a spread of -1.5, as analysts anticipate a close contest.