Sophomore Trevon “TJ” Taylor recorded a career-high 22 points on his 21st birthday, as the Wyoming Cowboys raced past Detroit Mercy by a score of 76-49 on Tuesday evening in the Arena-Auditorium. It marked the Cowboys’ largest win since the 2016-17 season.

Taylor was 8-of-13 from the field for the night with six rebounds.

Senior guard A.J. Banks added 15 points for a season-high to go along with three assists, four rebounds and two steals while shutting down one of the nation’s top scorers in Antoine Davis; Banks helped hold Davis — who’s been averaging 27 points a game — to only 11 points.

“The defensive end of the court is where we are hanging our hat,” UW head coach Allen Edwards said. “It’s not a secret that every team in the country who prepares to play Detroit Mercy understands how talented Antoine Davis is, and everyone puts together a game plan to make it tough on him.”

“We always talk about team defense, but tonight we really put it on A.J. [Bank]’s shoulders to get up and guard him [Davis] and try to wear him down,” Edwards added. “And then A.J. countered that by providing us some offense.”

Redshirt guard Hunter Maldonado added 13 points and a career-high seven assists. Senior guard Jake Hendricks added 12 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Sophomore Hunter Thompson added a career best 10 rebounds.

Wyoming held the Titans to 28 percent from the field while shooting 47 percent itself.

The Titans opened the contest on an 8-0 run, but Wyoming responded with 10-0 run led by Taylor and Maldonado.

Wyoming took a 33-31 advantage into the break while the two teams combined for 10 three pointers in the first half.

The Pokes opened the second half on a 13-0 run for a 46-31 advantage in the first three minutes of the frame. Wyoming hit three triples during the run.

The Pokes would hold the Titans to 0-of-8 shooting from the field and built a 58-40 lead midway through the half. Led by Taylor, the Pokes made it a 23-point game at 70-47 with just over three minutes left. During that stretch Taylor got to his career high with a dunk and Hendricks added his 10th board for the double-double.

Wyoming held the Titans to 20 percent from the field in the second half and countered shooting 52 percent on their way to the 76-49 win.

Detroit Mercy was led in scoring by Brad Calipari’s 13 points.

The Cowboys return to action tonight (Thursday), hosting Louisiana in a 7 p.m. contest in the Arena-Auditorium.