Wyoming Ties Series with an 81-57 Win Over Coastal Carolina in CBI Finals presented by Five Four

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Wyoming led from start to finish in posting an 81-57 win over Coastal Carolina to force a decisive Game 3 in the CBI Finals presented by Five Four.

The 24-point margin of victory is the largest ever in a CBI Finals and the second largest in any CBI game. In addition, the win means that for the eighth time in the 10-year history of the CBI, the Finals will go to Game 3.

Wyoming was led by Justin James, who recorded 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, and eight rebounds. Alexander Aka Gorski scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting (5-of-7 from behind the arc), Alan Herndon registered eight points and 10 rebounds, and Harry Dalton had six points, five rebounds, and five assists.

As a team, the Cowboys dominated the stat sheet. Wyoming outrebounded Coastal, 45-36, shot 25-of-55 (45%) from the field, including 12-of-31 (39%) from three, and 19-of-24 (79%) from the line.

The Chanticleers were 21-of-67 (31%) from the floor, 5-of-26 (19%) from three, and 10-of-18 (56%) from the foul line.

Coastal received 10 points apiece from Elijah Wilson and Artur Labinowicz. Amidou Bamba added six points and eight rebounds.

Previously, the largest margin of victory in a CBI Finals was 14 points when Fresno State beat Siena, 89-75, in Game 2 of the 2014 Finals (Siena would go on to win the title). This season, Utah Valley posted a 25-point win over Georgia Southern, 74-49, in the First Round of the CBI for the largest margin of victory in any CBI game. Ironically, both of those wins were on the road.

The deciding Game 3 will be played at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie on Friday. Tip time is 7:00pm ET (5:00pm MT) and will air on ESPNU with Roy Philpott and Corey Williams again calling the action.

Be sure to follow the CBI presented by Five Four on Twitter (@cbitourney), Facebook (College Basketball Invitational), and Instagram (cbitourney).

(photo by: Troy Babbitt)