Behind the numbers

LARAMIE -- In this new series we will examine a few numbers that stand out from the game we just witnessed. That was a 86-77 setback against Air Force Wednesday night at the Arena-Auditorium.

Sometimes they won’t be fun ones. Other times, you will be downright giddy.

So, let’s get started.

77
That’s how many points the Cowboys scored in a losing effort. It is the most points this team has put up all season long. So was the 52 percent shooting from the field and the 14-of-31 from behind the arc.

17
Hunter Thompson has been heating up in the paint for the Pokes. The big sophomore from Pine Bluffs netted this many points tonight. He had a career-high 22 in a 69-61 overtime win over Louisiana back on Nov. 21.

14
Though Air Force stole the show when it came to 3-point shooting Wednesday night, the Cowboys did hit this many of their own. It was the best night of the season from distance for the home team. Jake Hendricks led the Pokes with five from deep.

3
Wyoming has now lost this many games in a row. This one particularly hurt -- it was the opening game of the Mountain West schedule. The Cowboys are now 3-6 overall, and 0-1 in league play.

4
That's how many Cowboys scored in double figures against the visiting Falcons. Hunter Maldonado led the team with 18, followed by a 17-point night from Thompson and Hendricks. TJ Taylor chipped in with 10.

8
Maldonado led the Cowboys with this many rebounds Wednesday night. All of them came on the defensive end of the floor. Thompson finished with seven and Taylor had three.

9
Not to be outdone, the redshirt sophomore from Colorado Springs added nine assists on the night. Maldonado's final stat line reads like this: 18 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

8
Kenny Foster is starting to get in a groove offensively. The true freshman poured in eight points on 3-of-5 shooting Wednesday night. He was also 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

63.6
That's the Falcons' shooting percentage from 3-point land in the first half Wednesday. Air Force hit 7-of-11 from deep, led by Caleb Morris and AJ Walker.

5
Air Force one-upped the Pokes in the double-digit scoring category. Lavelle Scottie (19), Ryan Swan (17), Morris (15), Walker (20) and Mason Taylor (13) did all the damage for the road team.

3,013
That's the announced attendance at the Arena-Auditorium Wednesday night for the Cowboys MWC opener.

34
Fennis Dembo, Wyoming's all-time leading scorer, will be in the building Saturday when the Cowboys host the New Mexico Lobos. His No. 34 jersey will be hoisted up into the rafters right next to Wyoming legend, Kenny Sailors. The university is also handing out a Dembo bobble-head to the first 3,000 fans in attendance. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

• This week’s Behind the Numbers feature is brought to you by AARP Wyoming, and speaking of numbers, The U.S. Census Bureau is currently recruiting for 500,000 temporary  2020 Census Jobs across the country. Thousands will be hired to support their communities and get paid while doing it. Apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs