BOSLER, Wyo. (Interstat) — Khaden Bennett erupted for a game-high 27 points and the Wyoming Cowboys used a blistering first-half offensive display to build a commanding lead before holding off a late Nevada rally for an 83-73 victory in a Mountain West Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Arena-Auditorium.

A crowd of 3,478 watched the Cowboys (17-13, 8-9 MW) snap a two-game skid and avenge a 92-83 home loss to the Wolf Pack from January. Nevada, which entered as a significant favorite according to predictive metrics, fell to 19-11 overall and 10-7 in conference play.

The most important part of the game was Wyoming’s near-flawless first half, which saw them build a 21-point lead that Nevada could never fully overcome. The Cowboys shot with remarkable efficiency in the opening period, racing to a 49-28 halftime advantage. Bennett, a 6-foot-4 guard from Mansfield, Texas, was the catalyst, scoring 17 of his points before the break and connecting on five 3-pointers in the game. His backcourt mate, Damarion Dennis, added 18 points and a key block, while Gavin Gores provided 11 points and strong interior defense.

Nevada, which had won three of its last four, was led by Elijah Price’s 20 points. Tyler Rolison added 14 points and four assists, and Corey Camper finished with 11. The Wolf Pack’s comeback attempt was fueled by a much-improved second half where they outscored Wyoming 45-34, but the early deficit proved too large.

Wyoming set the tone immediately. After Nevada’s Vaughn Weems missed the game’s first shot, Bennett sank a 3-pointer just 22 seconds in off an assist from Nasir Meyer. That sparked a 13-2 opening run for the Cowboys, featuring another Bennett three and a Dennis layup. The Wolf Pack struggled to find any rhythm against Wyoming’s active defense, committing early turnovers and missing contested shots.

The Cowboys’ lead ballooned to 29-13 midway through the half following another Bennett 3-pointer. Nevada showed brief signs of life with a 7-0 spurt, capped by a Corey Camper three, to pull within 31-22. But Wyoming responded with authority. Bennett hit his fourth three of the half, and Dennis scored on consecutive drives to the basket. A Bennett steal and assist led to a Nasir Meyer jumper, and Bennett fittingly closed the half with a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Cowboys their largest lead at 49-28 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The second half saw a determined Nevada team finally match Wyoming’s intensity. The Wolf Pack chipped away, using a 12-5 run early in the period to cut the deficit to 56-43 after a Tyler Rolison layup. Every time Nevada threatened, however, Wyoming had an answer. When the lead shrunk to 67-57 following a Jeriah Coleman alley-oop, Leland Walker responded with a critical 3-pointer for the Cowboys.

Nevada made its most serious push in the final five minutes. Down 73-62, the Wolf Pack unleashed a 9-2 run. Chuck Bailey hit a three, Elijah Price scored inside, and Vaughn Weems converted a putback to bring Nevada within 75-71 with 3:25 remaining, forcing a Wyoming timeout.

The comeback stalled there. On the ensuing possession, Khaden Bennett drove for a tough layup to push the lead back to six. After a Nevada miss, the Wolf Pack were forced to foul. The Cowboys, who struggled at the line at times, made enough down the stretch, with Bennett and Gavin Gores combining to hit five of six free throws in the final 35 seconds to seal the victory.

Bennett’s 27-point performance, supplemented by five assists, marked a season-high and came after a stretch of more modest scoring outputs in his previous three games. His backcourt partnership with Dennis, who added three assists and a block to his 18 points, provided the offensive firepower Wyoming needed to overcome Nevada’s second-half charge.

For Nevada, the loss deals a blow to its seeding hopes for the upcoming Mountain West tournament. The Wolf Pack will look to rebound at home against Air Force on Saturday in their regular-season finale. Wyoming concludes its regular season on the road at San Jose State, also on Saturday.

The game’s total points, 156, went over the sportsbook over/under line of 144.5.