The Marcus Dawson Story

[coachdubs]

November 16, 2023

@CowboyCountry--Cowboy Basketball Season Opener v. Long Beach State Tonight! Go Pokes! Get the Dome of Doom Rocking!! #SeasonOpener #CowboyBasketball

[coachdubs]

November 16, 2023

@PokePride--Pokes up 48-31 at the half! What a first half by freshman C James Mills! 14 points 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Something to watch he does have 3 first half-fouls. #FreshmanPhenom #GoPokes #Wyoming Basketball

@PokePride--Pokes up 62-45 with 9:34 left--James Mills just picked up his 4th foul but he does have 21 points 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. #FreshmanFreak #WyomingBasketball

@Pokes Pride--Pokes finish the game on a 7-0 run to win 81-63. LBSU had closed to 11 with James Mills on the bench. Mills comes back in to close the deal. 1-0 #WyomingBasketball #PokesWin #FreshmanPhenom

[coachdubs]

November 17, 2023
Laramie Boomerang
Cowboys Steamroll to Victory in Season Opener Against Long Beach State
Ryan Mathews

Laramie, Wyoming-- The Wyoming Cowboys rolled to a commanding victory in their season opener against Long Beach State, dominating the game from the opening tip-off until the final buzzer. The packed house at the Arena-Auditorium witnessed an incredible performance from the Cowboys securing a convincing win with a final score of 81-63.
Freshman sensation James Mills made a thunderous debut, showcasing his skills in the paint. Mills, the towering 7-1 center, emerged as the star of the night, amassing a game-high 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. However, foul trouble limited his time on the floor to just 19 minutes, making his remarkable performance even more impressive.
Coach Marcus Dawson praised his young center's impact, stating, "James brought an incredible intensity and energy to the floor. His ability to control the paint was exceptional, and his contribution, especially in the limited minutes due to fouls, was instrumental to our victory. Now we just need to get him to not foul so much."
Alongside Mills, Clifton Tahid stood out with an impressive performance, notching 18 points and six rebounds, adding to the Cowboys' dominance inside. Brendan Moody, Perry Bryant, and Marcus Morris also contributed significantly, displaying the depth of the Cowboy roster.
Despite a solid effort from Long Beach State's J.R. Bush, who led his team with 18 points, the 49ers struggled to contain Wyoming's relentless attack and had no answer for their inside play being outscored 36-12 in the paint.
Coach Dawson expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing the depth and potential displayed on the court. "Our guys executed our game plan exceptionally well. Mills had an outstanding debut, and our overall performance, especially in the paint, showed our strength. It's a promising start but it's only one game, we're 1-0, our next game we also have to go 1-0. One game at a time."
The Cowboys will travel to San Louis Obispo, California for a Saturday game against Cal-Poly.

[coachdubs]

November 20, 2023
Laramie Boomerang
Wyoming Prevails Over Cal-Poly Mustangs in Convincing Fashion
Ryan Mathews

San Louis Obispo, CA-- The Wyoming Cowboys continued their winning streak, securing a decisive victory against the Cal-Poly Mustangs with an 85-67 triumph. The game, which initially showed signs of a close contest in the first half, saw the Cowboys eventually pull away for a commanding victory.
Freshman standout James Mills once again put on a show, delivering another stellar performance with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and a blocked shot. Mills' consistency in back-to-back games has solidified his impact with the team, compensating for the absence due to the foul trouble of Clifton Tahid, who scored only three points before fouling out of the game.
Coach Marcus Dawson praised his young team, "Mills has been exceptional, stepping up as needed. Perry Bryant also had a solid game, their contribution was vital, especially with Tahid's foul trouble tonight."
Perry Bryant, the other Cowboy freshman to start, added 15 points and 9 rebounds, proving to be a valuable asset in the Cowboys' lineup. Brendan Moody's 12 points, coupled with Marcus Morris' impressive rebounding off the bench, further bolstered the Cowboys' performance.
The Cowboys' dominance in the paint continued for the second consecutive outing outscoring Cal-Poly 30-20 and capitalizing on offensive rebounds to score 14 second-chance points. This aggressive approach mirrored their defensive intensity limiting the Mustangs to a mere 34% from the field and a paltry 18% from beyond the arc.
Coach Dawson emphasized the team's efforts, stating, "Our defense was excellent in the second half especially limiting Cal-Poly to 26 points, we controlled the paint well. It's encouraging to see our young players stepping up and contributing significantly. There will be some bumps in the road with them, but that's the only way we will learn and get better. We'll continue to get better, working on making our weaknesses stronger as we progress through the season."
The Cowboys improved to 2-0 on the season and will play host to Temple on Wednesday, November 23 at the Arena-Auditorium.

[coachdubs]

November 23, 2023

@CowboyCountry--@JMillsBallin is the real deal! 25 points and 7 rebounds in another phenomenal performance against Temple! #GoPokes #CowboyUp

@PokePride--The freshman sensation @JMillsBallin continues to light up the court! Another stellar game leading the @wyo_mbb to a 3-0 start! #WyomingBasketball #NCAAB

@WYO_MBB--James Mills showing us why he's a force to be reckoned with! 25 points? The man's on fire! Keep it going, Cowboys! #DomeOfDoom #WyomingHoops

@WyomingHoopsFan12--Can't stop cheering for the @wyo_mbb team! What a game by James Mills! That's how you start a season-- 3-0! #GoPokes #WyomingBasketball

@PokeNation23--James Mills putting on a clinic! 25 points and 7 boards--outstanding! Another 'W" for @wyo_mbb! #DomeOfDoom #WyomingHoops

@HoopsAdict87--Impressive win for @wyo_mbb against Temple! The Cowboys off to a blazing 3-0 start, and James Mills is making a statement! #CowboyBasketball

@WyomingSportsMag--Cowboys clinch their 3rd win of the season! @wyo_mbb showcasing their dominance with a victory over Temple. James Mills is a force! #GoPokes

@PokePrideFanatic--The Cowboys are on a roll! What a win against Temple! James Mills leading the charge--absolute Beast Mode! #GoPokes #WyomingBasketball

[coachdubs]

November 23, 2023
The Wyoming locker room after the Cowboys 81-73 win over Temple in Laramie

The locker room was full of excitement and joy as the Cowboys had moved to 3-0 on the season with an 81-73 win against Temple in front of a packed Dome of Doom in Laramie. The Cowboys had played well against a tough team from the American Athletic Conference.

"Great win tonight fellas! That was a great effort out there. I couldn't be prouder of the we battled through every possession. We knew Temple was going to come at us hard, and you all responded exceptionally well. James Mills, what can I say? You were an absolute force out there, young man. 25 points and seven boards--that's sensational basketball!

But let me tell you, this win wasn't just about individual performances. It was about our team. The way we shared the ball, the defense we played--that's the Cowboy way. We fought for every inch, and it paid off. I think we've got something special here.

Now before I wrap this up, I've got an announcement to make. I know many of you miss home and your families this time of year and it sucks we had a game scheduled on Thanksgiving Day. But since today is Thanksgiving, that means tomorrow is Black Friday, but it's also Cowboy Basketball Thanksgiving, and you know what that means? Dinner at the Dawson household! You're all invited. We'll have some great food, laughs, and a chance to bond some more and celebrate this victory together as a family.

Enjoy tonight, boys. You've earned it. But remember, we're just getting started. Keep that focus, keep that energy. I can't wait to see what more we can achieve together. Go Pokes!"

[coachdubs]

November 27, 2023
PokePride.com
Pokes Outplay Beavers In Corvallis

Corvallis, Oregon--In a thrilling clash in Corvallis, Oregon, the Wyoming Cowboys triumphed over the Oregon State Beavers with an 89-81 victory. Despite a fiery opening shot from Andre McKnight, the Beavers found themselves trailing after just a few minutes into the game, with the Cowboys taking a lead they never surrendered.
The first half showed Wyoming's scoring ability, orchestrating a relentless scoring attack. Building a steady lead, they entered halftime with a comfortable 48-36 advantage.
The Beavers made a valiant attempt at a comeback in the second half, outscoring the Cowboys, but Wyoming's early dominance proved insurmountable. Clifton Tahid and James Mills spearheaded the Cowboys' offense each contributing 24 points, while Rod Tarver pitched in 11 off the bench.
Brendan Moody's facilitation of the ball on the offensive side with six assists and Germain Fields' tenacity on the boards and playmaking were pivotal to the victory. Despite Andrew White's impressive 26-point performance for Oregon State, the Beavers couldn't rally enough support from the rest of the lineup, falling short against the Cowboys' collective effort.
Being pleased with the team's performance, Coach Marcus Dawson remarked, "We came out with intensity and focus, and that set the tone for the game. Our guys showed composure, especially in the second half with Oregon State's attempts at a comeback. It's always great to win on the road. I feel like a road win is worth two wins because it's so tough to do."
The Cowboys will host Valparaiso on November 30 at 7:00 pm.

[coachdubs]

December 1, 2023
Wyoming Sports Magazine
Wyoming Continues Hot Start to Season; Defeats Valparaiso 91-71

Laramie, Wyoming--James Mills led all scorers with 21 points as the Wyoming Cowboys led from start to finish, never trailing in the game, en route to a 20-point win over Valparaiso. Mills was one of five Cowboys to score in double-figures as the Cowboys shot 55% from the field. There wasn't much that didn't go right for Coach Marcus Dawson's squad. Clifton Tahid had 19 points and six rebounds, Marcus Morris added 17 points, and Rod Tarver 11 points off the bench. Brendan Moody scored 12 points had nine assists, five rebounds, and six steals stuffing the stat sheet.
The lone bright spot for Valparaiso was Adrian West who scored 21 points in the losing effort.
"I thought our defense was solid all night long, our full-court press defense forced them into 20 turnovers, and, as usual, we dominated the paint," commented Coach Dawson in the post-game press conference.
The Cowboys travel to Storrs, Connecticut to play the #4-ranked Huskies on December 3.

[coachdubs]

December 4, 2023
In the early morning hours on their flight back to Wyoming from Connecticut. The Cowboy coaching staff huddled together to discuss their game against the Huskies from a few hours earlier. A game in which they played an awful first half and played very well in the second half losing to the #4-ranked Huskies 80-71.

Marcus: Tough loss, but there's a lot to dissect here. We knew UConn was going to be our biggest challenge of the season to this point, but we have to play these types of games to grow. They certainly came out firing on all cylinders. What are your thoughts?

Ken: Agreed. They had a strong start, and we struggled to match their intensity early on. Our defense wasn't as sharp as we've seen in previous games.

Marcus: Correct, but playing in an environment that can be just as hostile as our place had to be a contributing factor. Once we settled in things got better, unfortunately, it took us nearly a full half to settle in.

Sundance: UConn's offensive tempo caught us off guard. But I have to say, those final minutes showed our grit and potential. The boys fought hard.

Mark: Agreed, Sunny. I was impressed with Perry and James again. They're showing consistency and composure beyond their year.

Marcus: Sometimes ignorance is bliss with young kids like that; they don't know what they don't know. They were solid no doubt. But that first half...that's where we lost the game. We've got to come out stronger and dictate the tempo from the start.

Ken: Our bench depth is a factor too. We've got some young talent stepping up, but we need a more balanced contribution.

Marcus: True, Ken. We'll continue to work on that as we go, building their overall skill through our development. Overall, tough game against a top team. But our guys showed character in that late 15-4 run to close the gap to nine at the end. We'll learn from this and bounce back.

Sundance: Absolutely! We'll regroup, work on tightening up our defense, and keep building on what's working for us. Plenty more games ahead.

Mark: We've got a resilient group here, Coach. This won't deter them. They'll come back stronger.

Marcus: That's what I love about this group of young men. Let's use this to fuel our next game. We'll address the areas we were deficient and keep moving forward.

[coachdubs]

December 7, 2023
Cowboys Roll the Trojans on the Road

Troy, Alabama--Marcus Dawson's Cowboys got back to their winning ways by defeating the Troy Trojans 77-59. Wyoming took an early lead and maintained their momentum throughout the game, establishing a commanding 43-29 advantage at halftime. Their relentless performance continued early in the second half, with a quick 10-2 run allowing them to extend their lead to 53-31.
Brendan Moody led the scoring charge for the Pokes with a game-high 23 points. Supported by the impressive play of freshmen James Mills, who contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, and Perry Bryant, who added 11 points to the effort. Wyoming demonstrated depth and talent amongst their younger players. Tahid Clifton rounded out the double-digit scoring effort with 13 points of his own.
The Cowboys' offensive efficiency was evident shooting an impressive 54% from the field and making all five of their free throw attempts in the game. Meanwhile, their stifling defense limited the men from Troy to 41% shooting overall and a mere 21% from behind the arc.
Coach Marcus Dawson expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, emphasizing the collective effort displayed by his players. "I thought we came out with great intensity tonight, much better than our last game. We worked on that through our last few practices and it showed. I'm pleased with the result tonight and I like how we came to play on the defensive end of the floor."