It's been a wild ride for Wyoming basketball fans this season.  The Cowboys cruised to an 11-2 non conference record, then won their first 5 conference games, earning the program's first national ranking since 1988.  But then, star forward Larry Nance, Jr. was sidelined with mononucleosis and the Pokes dropped five of their last eight games.

The late season stumble seemingly dashed Wyoming's hopes of earning their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2002.  But then, these Cowboys were never going to make it easy. All season long, they've gutted out close games, several of which they could or should have lost.

In January, they came from behind to post back-to-back overtime victories over Fresno State and New Mexico, including a miraculous comeback against the Lobos that will go down as one of the most exciting games in program history. Along the way, the Cowboys set a school record for the most homes wins in a season with 17.

Yet, coming into the Mountain West Conference Tournament, they were considered a long shot to make the finals.  After surviving a nail-biter in the quarterfinals versus Utah State, the Pokes took on a red hot Boise State team that had won 15 of their last 16 games to win the regular season conference crown.

And for a while, it looked like the Broncos and MWC Player of the Year Derrick Marks were going to run the Cowboys out of the gym. The Cowboys trailed by double digits with just over a minute remaining in the first half, until Josh Adams engineered an 8-0 run that cut the Boise State lead to 2 points at halftime.

Wyoming carried that momentum over into the second half, riding Adams, who scored a career high 27 points, and Nance, Jr., who added 20, to post yet another improbable, come from behind, overtime win.

Now, the Cowboys are one win away from the big dance.  Had Nance, Jr. not been sidelined for several games late this season, the Pokes could have contended for an at large NCAA Tournament bid.  Both Colorado State and Boise State are expected to receive March Madness invitations, and Wyoming swept the season series against each of them.

But again, these Pokes never do anything the easy way. Will their roller coaster season have a storybook ending?  They'll have to upset San Diego State, a team that beat them in Laramie and blew them out last month in San Diego. The Cowboys are hoping their third meeting with the Aztecs will finally be the charm. If so, the Pokes will be dancing into March Madness for the first time in 13 years.

Today's game marks Wyoming's second appearance in the Mountain West Championship.  Back in 2006, they lost an overtime thriller to San Diego State. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the CBS Network.

More From 107.9 Jack FM