Nov. 18, 2000

Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Ronell Mingo scored 15 points and Marcus Bailey 14 as Wyoming opened its season with a 77-59 victory over Division I upstart UC Riverside Saturday night.

Mingo,a junior college transfer, scored 11 of his points and Bailey 10 of his in the second half. Mingo also had nine rebounds.

Josh Davis and Chris McMillian each contributed 13 points for the Cowboys (1-0). Center Uche Nsonwu-Amadi, frustrated offensively by a zone defense, ended up with 6 points but grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Wyoming played without star forward-center Ugo Udezue, who is serving a three-game suspension for violating unspecified team rules.

Riverside, a Division II team moving up to Division I, was led by Mark Miller's 15 points and Kevin Butler's 10. The Highlanders shot 30 3-pointers against the bigger Wyoming team, hitting seven.

Wyoming led 36-23 at the half with Davis, first team all conference last year, leading the way with 9 points and three assists.

The Cowboys opened a 43-25 lead early in the second half, but Riverside battled back within 5 points twice - the latest at the 7:34 mark on a Steve Clayton jumper that pulled the Highlanders to within 58-53.

But Wyoming outscored Riverside 19-6 over the last 4:19 of the game. Bailey accounted for 6 of the final Cowboy points.