The men’s basketball team opened up its 2007-2008 home conference schedule Saturday with an 83-56 win against the Wyoming Cowboys.

Wyoming entered Saturday’s game averaging 73.6 points per game, ranking fourth in the Mountain West Conference, but the Horned Frogs’ defense kept the Cowboys from hitting that mark.

“It’s not that we didn’t have any mistakes, because we had plenty,” head coach Neil Dougherty said. “But tonight we played hard and we were committed to compete the entire 40 minutes without getting mental lapses.”

Mental lapses were not a part of junior shooting guard Henry Salter’s performance as he opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers to contribute to a 13-0 early run.

Salter recorded his 14th double-digit scoring performance in 15 games this season, finishing with 20 points.

“When I start off making my shots like I did tonight, I am able to gain a lot of confidence as the game goes on,” Salter said. He is ranked in the top five in points per game in the conference.

“I’m just trying to stay consistent making shots, which allows me to open up my penetration and drive,” Salter said.

Holding Wyoming to 22 points in the first half, the Horned Frogs also dominated the boards throughout the game, finishing with a 46 to 32 advantage.

The Frogs also doubled Wyoming’s steal and assist totals.

Although the Horned Frogs have a reputation of slowing down in the second half, the team showed it might be past that.

Saturday night was perhaps the first time the team played two halves equally well, junior forward Kevin Langford said after scoring 16 points and handing off two assists. Senior guard Brent Hackett also contributed 15 points and four assists while junior forward John Ortiz ended the night with 11 rebounds.

TCU took its biggest lead in the second half after a 12-0 run, resembling the start of the game.

Langford said the team plans to have the same focus they had this game when they play the University of New Mexico at home Wednesday.