LARAMIE, Wyo. — True freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels went 24-of-37 and threw three touchdown passes in his first career start as Wyoming beat UNLV 30-27 in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.

Carta-Samuels led the Cowboys (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) on two key scoring drives in the fourth quarter, and sophomore cornerback Tashaun Gipson picked off Rebel quarterback Omar Clayton twice in the second half to lead the Wyoming defense.

UNLV (2-2, 0-1) had a chance to tie the game with a field goal with 1:19 remaining, but fumbled the snap and Wyoming's Corey Orth recovered the ball at the Cowboys' 38-yard line.

Gabe Knapton contributed a team-high 17 tackles for the Wyoming defense.

Clayton went 26-of-43 for the Rebels, who dropped their 20th straight conference road game. Starr Fuimaono led the UNLV defense with 11 tackles.