Basketball The first basketball team from the Rocky Mountains to win an NCAA Basketball Championship, the 1942-43 Wyoming cowboy basketball team posted a record of 31-2 despite playing just nine home games during the year. After losing at Duquesne in the fourth game of the season, the cowboys did not lose a game to another college team the rest of the season. Their only other loss was to the Denver Legion team. The Cowboys opened the NCAA Tournament beating the University of Oklahoma, 53-50, in the first round. Wyoming then beat the University of Texas, 58-54, and advanced to the NCAA Championship finals. Wyoming beat Georgetown University, 46-34, for the NCAA title. Two days after winning the NCAA Championship, the Wyoming team played NIT Champion St. John’s in a Red Cross benefit game for the war effort. It took an overtime, but Wyoming beat St. John’s 52-47, in Madison Square Garden, to earn the title of World Champions of 1943. The Cowboys outscored their opponents by an average of over 20 points per game and that 1942-43 squad became the first Wyoming team to score over 100 points in a game, by beating Regis 101-45.Honors and Awards
- First team in Rocky Mountains to win an NCAA Championship
- Only Wyoming basketball team to win an NCAA Championship
- Record of 31-2
- Defeated NIT Champions St. John’s in Red Cross Benefit Game
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