LARAMIE -- Allen Edwards said he's not losing sleep over his job status.

Wyoming's head coach said this just moments after the Cowboys blew a 19-point lead Saturday and let Border War rival Colorado State go on a 15-0 run over the final 1:56 en route to a stunning 77-70 loss inside the Arena-Auditorium.

It was as bad as it sounds.

But for Edwards, this was simply another setback for a young, growing basketball team.

"It hurts, but this is something you go through to get better," a hoarse Edwards said during his post-game press conference, adding that youth, and CSU's size advantage down low were not excuses. "That's what you have to love about the guys -- they don't give up."




Then came the question about Edwards' future in Laramie.

Is he worried? It sure doesn't sound like it.

"We did make drastic changes," Edwards said, referring to athletic director Tom Burman demanding better results this season compared the the 8-24 debacle last year. "I'm looking more at character than talent ... This is a 'build job,' not a win-right-away job. No disrespect to us, but this isn't San Diego State, UNLV or New Mexico."

Edwards said he could "pack the win column" with the wrong guys. Here, he said, he is building a foundation. Whether he will have time to see that come to fruition or not is in the hands of Burman.

Edwards said he's not downplaying the importance of this game. This was not just an epic meltdown, it came against the Cowboys' biggest rival -- at home.

He said his young squad got caught watching the action as the Cowboys' 19-point lead began to slip away with under 15 minutes to go. Edwards said the stellar three-point defense his squad played over the first 25 minutes Saturday, became a game of relaxation and relaxing, not being in the spot when the initial pass was made.

CSU hit 6-of 13 from deep in the second half, none bigger than a Kris Martin dagger to give the Rams a 72-70 lead with 34 seconds to go.

Edwards preaches defense, rebounding and protecting the ball.

In the second half, the Cowboys allowed the Rams to shoot 46.7 percent from the field and 46.2 from beyond the arc. Nico Carvacho pulled down 17 rebounds. CSU out-boarded the Pokes, 52-26. Wyoming did win the turnover battle, 17-9.

But in the end, it was all about the scoreboard. Edwards said he results don't always show up there.




"I told the guys, sometimes it's hard to get up and continue to preach this message," Edwards said. "... They keep coming in with the right mindset and attitude. They are still learning how to win close games. You go through this in order to grow."

When it comes to his job, Edwards simply said, "It's out of my hands."

"When it comes to the administration, It's not like I'm hiding from them and they aren't hiding from me."

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