The Basics
With just a one-day turnaround, the Omaha men's basketball team travels to Wyoming this Thursday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo.
The game will be broadcast live on Mountain West Network, and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• The 2020-21 season is the 108th overall in program history and the 10th of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,199-1,208.
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Matt Pile needs nine points to become the 42nd 1,000-point scorer in Maverick history.
• Pile owns the 14th-most total rebounds nationally. His 777 career rebounds are the seventh-most of any active player in NCAA Division I, and his 22 career double-doubles are the 13th-most.
• Pile's 11 boards at Colorado on Wednesday moved him into third all-time at Omaha for career rebounds.
• Pile has started 80 consecutive games, the longest streak of any active Maverick.
• Former Maverick guard Marcus Tyus signed a contract with Science City Jena of Germany's ProA league on Wednesday for his fourth season as a professional.
• The Mavericks have a 10-game non-conference slate, all on the road from Nov. 25 to Dec. 29. During that time, their home facility, Baxter Arena, will serve as the host site for the NCHC Pod, with 38 hockey games held Dec. 1-21.
• Omaha plays 18 of its 26 games away from Baxter Arena this season.
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll. Pile was a first-team Preseason All-Summit selection, and
Marlon Ruffin was a second-team pick.
• Pile and
Ayo Akinwole are serving as team captains for the second straight season.
Scouting the Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming enters Thursday's game with a record of 5-1 after defeating Utah Valley 93-88 Saturday on the road. Hunter Maldonado led the Cowboys with 30 points on 12-of-23 shooting alongside seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Drake Jeffries had another 21 points with six 3-pointers, and Marcus Williams added 12 points.
Wyoming finished the 2019-20 campaign at 9-24 (2-16 MWC) and was picked ninth by the media in the Mountain West's 2020-21 preseason poll.
Head coach Jeff Linder is in his first season in Laramie with a record of 5-1 and carries a career record of 85-51 over five years.
All-Time Against Wyoming
Wyoming holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with Omaha. The Mavericks and Cowboys last met in Laramie on Dec. 19, 2015, when Wyoming won 76-75 as part of the Global Sports Classic.
Meeting the Mountain West
Thursday's meeting at Wyoming marks the ninth meeting of Omaha's Division I era against Mountain West competition. All-time, Omaha is 2-6 against members of the conference.
This and That
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Nick Ferrarini made his Maverick debut Wednesday during the second half at Colorado after the NCAA Division I Council's decision to grant a blanket waiver allowing all transfer student-athletes to compete immediately this season.
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Jadin Booth has averaged 9.5 ppg off the bench in the last two games.
• Akinwole is a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line since Dec. 5.
• Wednesday at Colorado, Akinwole's five helpers made him the eighth Maverick in the Division I era to reach 200 career assists.
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Marlon Ruffin returned to the court Wednesday for the first time since Dec. 3. The junior joined the starting five for the first time in his career against Colorado.
Up Next
Omaha concludes non-conference play at Kansas State on Tuesday, Dec. 29, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. The game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
