Rebels have two foes to beat tonight

LARAMIE — One of the first things Lon Kruger’s Runnin’ Rebels saw as they exited their locker room at the Arena-Auditorium here tonight was a wall with the following message painted on it: “Welcome to 7,220 Feet — How’s Your Oxygen?”

That’s part of the home court advantage here for the Wyoming Cowboys (14-10, 3-7), who have lost just once here this year … to first place Utah, 80-70, on Feb. 7. The Pokes are 10-1 here this season.

The Runnin’ Rebels are well aware of the thin air they’ll have to overcome in defeating the Pokes.

“The first warning I got was about the altitude,” guard Tre’Von Willis, who is making his first trip to Laramie, said. “They gave me advice on eating well and making sure I get my rest. Hopefully we can go out there and just compete and focus hard and get a ‘W’.”

The Rebels have already played and won this year at Air Force which has an altitude of about 6,000 feet. So is it really that big of a deal?

“You can definitely feel the difference,” Willis said. “It’s later in the season and I think we’re in better shape right now, so we should be fine.”

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A late start (8 p.m. MST) on a weeknight combined with a losing team doesn’t bode well for tonight’s attendance.

Just 25 minutes now before tipoff and there are about 100 people in the stands.