BOSLER, Wyo. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats and mounting frustration, the Air Force Falcons authored their most agonizing chapter yet on Saturday afternoon, falling 66-62 to the Wyoming Cowboys in a Mountain West Conference clash at Arena-Auditorium.

The Falcons, who entered the game with a 3-25 record and had lost 12 straight, battled with a desperation befitting their plight. They erased a 10-point halftime deficit, took a late lead, and positioned themselves to snap a skid that dated back to January. Instead, a final-minute collapse ensured their heartbreak would continue, dropping their record to 3-26 overall.

Wyoming, improving to 16-13, escaped with a victory that was far from artistic but crucial for its postseason aspirations. The Cowboys shot a frigid 35.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range but compensated with a 13-2 advantage in offensive rebounds and a decisive edge at the free-throw line, making 13 of 16 attempts to Air Force’s 8 of 21.

The game’s defining sequence unfolded in the final 35 seconds with the score tied at 62. Wyoming’s Nasir Meyer, who finished with 14 points, drove the lane and converted a difficult layup while being fouled. He completed the three-point play at the line, giving the Cowboys a 65-62 lead with 35 seconds remaining.

Air Force, with a chance to answer, saw its ensuing possession unravel. Kam Sanders, who led the Falcons with 16 points and five assists, lost the ball out of bounds with 23 seconds left, a turnover that effectively sealed the outcome. Wyoming’s Damarion Dennis, who paced all scorers with 16 points, split a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left for the final margin. The Falcons’ last-gasp three-point attempts by Lucas Hobin and Ethan Greenberg missed their mark.

The frantic finish capped a game of wild momentum swings. Air Force opened the contest with unexpected fire, hitting its first three shots, including two three-pointers from 7-foot center Wesley Celichowski, to race to an 8-0 lead. Wyoming responded with a 22-4 run, spearheaded by Adam Harakow’s outside shooting, to take control and eventually carry a 35-25 advantage into halftime.

The second half belonged to the Falcons’ resilience. They chipped away at the deficit with methodical play, finally drawing even and then taking their first lead since the opening minutes when a Sanders three-pointer put Air Force up 59-57 with 3:08 remaining. The teams traded blows until the 62-62 tie with under a minute to play, setting the stage for Meyer’s decisive and-one play.

Beyond Sanders, Air Force received 12 points from Eli Robinson. Celichowski added nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds. For Wyoming, Harakow joined Meyer with 14 points, and the Cowboys’ defense forced 15 Air Force turnovers while committing only eight.

The loss extended Air Force’s misery in close games; it was their seventh defeat this season by single digits. For Wyoming, it was a vital conference win secured through toughness and key plays in the clutch, despite an otherwise uneven performance. The Cowboys now look ahead to a critical final stretch of the regular season, while the Falcons are left to ponder another opportunity that slipped through their grasp in the game’s final moments.

The announced attendance was 4,422.