Gear up for game day: Texas Southern

LARAMIE -- We told you before the opener this team would have a few traits:

• They will shoot the three ball
• They will protect the three-point line on defense
• They will be very young
• They will be fun

Check. Not ideal. Check. Check.

Now, 9-of-29 from three isn't all that great. That's what Mississippi Valley State shot in the opener Saturday inside the Arena-Auditorium. Most of those came late. The Pokes had a huge lead. The lack of conditioning at 5-on-5 caught up with the home team.

The bright spots. Well, they were really bright.

The Cowboys nailed 13 three-pointers and had four players score in double figures. Hunter Thompson led the way with 25 points, and freshman point guard Marcus Williams chipped in with 20. Drake Jeffries scored 19 and Hunter Maldonado netted 10 in the lopsided 97-61 victory over the Delta Devils.

This senior-less team was in full control from tipoff to halftime, building a 57-26 lead. That was the first time a UW team had scored that many points in a half since 2017.

No complaints in Jeff Linder's first outing as the new head coach in Laramie.

Tigers tamed

After giving Washington State a scare in the season opener last week, Texas Southern was handed a 20-point loss in Stillwater, Oklahoma Saturday night.

Oklahoma State hit 10 threes and shot nearly 46 percent from the field in the 85-65 win.

Texas Southern (0-2) won the rebounding battle, 43-37, but turned the ball over 13 times. The Tigers' leading scorer was forward Galen Alexander, who finished with 22 points. The 6foot, 6-inch, 220-pound senior should give Jeremiah Oden, Eoin Nelson and Thompson all they can handle Monday night in Laramie.

The Pokes will also need to keep an eye on guards Michael Weathers and John Walker III. Those two combined for 24 points in the loss at OSU.

Here is all you need to know about Monday's tilt in Laramie:

WHO: Texas Southern (0-2) at Wyoming (1-0)
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 46, low 20 degrees, sunny, winds at 12-23 mph
WHERE: Arena-Auditorium, Laramie, Wyo.
TRAVEL: WYDOT
TV: None
RADIO: Wyoming affiliates
STREAMING: gowyo.com
TICKETS: UW Ticket office
BOX SCORE: gowyo.com
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Texas Southern
VEGAS ODDS: Wyoming -10, O/U 110
HISTORY: Wyoming is 2-0 in the all-time series (Last meeting: 72-66 Wyoming win in 2017)
HEAD COACHES: Jeff Linder / Johnny Jones