Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics
Lobos Look to Spoil Aggies’ Championship Celebration
- Tipoff: Saturday, 2:00 PM MST (4:00 PM EST)
- Venue: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Logan, UT
- TV/Streaming: Mountain West Network, locally on KMYU
- Radio: Lobo Radio Network – Rob Portnoy/Hunter Green
- Conference: Mountain West
Mountain West Showdown: New Mexico Lobos at Utah State Aggies
Overview
• Utah State (24–6, 14–5 MW): The Aggies currently sit atop the Mountain West standings and have already secured at least a share of the regular-season title. A victory on Saturday would give Utah State the outright conference championship.
• New Mexico (22–8, 13–6 MW): The Lobos are coming off an 82–74 loss to Colorado State but still have a chance
to earn a share of the Mountain West title if they defeat Utah State in Logan.
The Mountain West rivalry heats up as the New Mexico Lobos head to Logan to face the Utah State Aggies at the lively Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in what promises to be an exciting college basketball game with a lot riding on it for both teams.
New Mexico enters with a 22-8 record, while Utah State is at 24-6. Both teams have strong seasons, making this game a key moment for the conference title and NCAA Tournament seeding, especially for the Lobos.
They can ill afford to go up to Logan and have a bad day; they must bring their A game if they want any chance of pulling the upset. Playing in front of a very hostile crowd, they must play with some serious physicality to give themselves a chance to pull an upset.
A victory on the road would enhance New Mexico’s tournament résumé and provide a major boost to its Mountain West campaign.
A victory for Utah State would strengthen their position in the conference standings and highlight their strong home-court advantage in a challenging arena.
photo courtesy Utah State Athletics
Team Outlooks
New Mexico Lobos
The Lobos have a balanced offense and efficient scoring, averaging 80.4 points per game on 45.9% shooting, including 35.9% from three-point range.
They grab 36.2 rebounds per game, have 436 assists this season, and commit 17.5 fouls per game.
On defense, New Mexico forces 13.8 turnovers per game and limits opponents to 41.7% shooting overall and 29.7% from three-point range.
The Lobos allow 70.1 points and 34.3 rebounds per game, ranking 114th in defensive assists allowed.
In their last game, the Lobos lost 82-74 at Colorado State, even though Deyton Albury scored 22 points on 88.9% shooting, with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
New Mexico will need Albury and the rest of the team to play just as efficiently in Logan.
(Utah State Athletics, Journee Stewart)
Utah State Aggies
The Aggies have one of the top offenses in the conference, averaging 82.7 points per game on 50.1% shooting, along with 34.6 rebounds and 17.7 assists. They commit 18.8 fouls per game but convert 70.2% of their free throws.
Defensively, Utah State allows 70.5 points per game, limiting opponents to 42.3% shooting and 33.5% from three-point range.
They generate 14.2 turnovers per game and give up 32.4 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game.
In their most recent game, the Aggies lost 92-65.
Mason Falslev scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists, but Utah State struggled with three-point shooting (16.7%) and allowed UNLV to shoot 57.6% from the field.
Players to Watch
The Lobos rely on a balanced lineup that mixes experienced guards with strong frontcourt players, a reliable playmaker, and scorers from the perimeter.
- JT Rock (C) – 7’1″ interior presence; rim protector and rebounder.
- Tomislav Buljan (F) – Physical forward, contributing scoring and rebounds.
- Jake Hall (G) – Leading scorer (~16 PPG), efficient shooter, key offensive option.
- Antonio Chol (G) – Stretch guard and 3-point threat, crucial for spacing.
- Luke Huapt (F) is an all-around player who makes other Lobos look good, does the little things well, according to Eric Olen.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Utah State Aggies
Utah State’s guard-focused offense depends on balanced scoring and strong shooting from the perimeter.
- MJ Collins Jr. (G) – Leading scorer (17–18 PPG), can take over games.
- Mason Falslev (G) – Versatile guard (~16 PPG, 5.7 RPG), contributes across the stat sheet.
- Karson Templin (F) – Frontcourt scorer and rebounder, balances the attack.
- D. Allen (G) – Playmaker and secondary scorer, assists with ball-handling and defense.
- Supporting Frontcourt – Depth in scoring and rebounding helps Utah State maintain interior stability.
What to Watch For
Tempo and Turnovers
New Mexico excels in fast-break situations, while Utah State prefers a controlled half-court style. The team that controls the pace will likely have the advantage.
Rebounding Battle
Both teams are strong rebounders. Winning the battle on the boards, especially on offense, could lead to crucial second-chance points and determine the outcome of the game.
Three-Point Shooting
Utah State struggled with shooting from three-point range in their last game, while New Mexico has been consistent from beyond the arc. A hot shooting night from either team could determine the outcome of a close game.
Conference and NCAA Implications
A road win for New Mexico would enhance their NCAA Tournament resume and improve their Mountain West standing. A Utah State victory would bolster their position in the conference title race and keep them well-positioned for the postseason.
Get ready for a fast-paced, intense showdown in Logan. If New Mexico can control the tempo and hit its three-pointers, they have a good chance to spoil the Aggies’ celebration with a big win.
This coaching staff must ensure the Lobos are prepared for every situation—when Plan A doesn’t work, Plan B should be ready.
Last week against the Rams, the big men were hitting threes, and the Lobos failed to adjust quickly—a reminder that opponents will always pose unexpected challenges.
This put the Lobos behind by double digits, and they spent the entire game trying to catch up.
The Lobos’ big man must be able to step out and defend the three-point shot to give their team a chance to stop the bleeding if an opponent’s big men get hot.
Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics
Coach Eric Olen, in his defense, took responsibility for the loss to the Rams:
“Gave them a plan that was … just didn’t set them up for success,” he said. “This, this is on me for sure.
Thought our guys really competed and fought to try to get back in it and give themselves a chance.
But, you know, once I put them in that hole, the room for error is pretty minimal, and I kind of have to play almost perfectly from there.”
They might consider using zone defense occasionally, or playing both Buljan and Rock could help keep Utah State off balance and give Buljan space to attack smaller defenders in the paint.
The Lobos also need a plan for scoring when their threes aren’t falling, as opponents often stretch defenders to limit easy outside shots.
Still, if the Aggies dominate the boards and control half-court possessions, their home crowd could provide the energy needed to secure a crucial Mountain West victory over New Mexico.
Prediction
Despite the challenge of playing on the road, the Lobos have the talent and versatility to pull off an upset.
If they hit their threes, move the ball smartly, and adapt quickly to whatever the Aggies throw at them, nothing is out of reach.
Big performances from Buljan, Rock, and the rest of the team could swing momentum in New Mexico’s favor, silencing the home crowd and leaving Utah State stunned.
With the right mix of poise, energy, and determination, the Lobos have every reason to believe that a road victory in Logan is possible.
