photo courtesy of UNM Athletics
A strong second-half performance helped New Mexico pull away from Nevada, 80–73 at The Pit Saturday night, as the Lobos extended their PIT winning streak against none other than former head Lobo coach Steve Alford’s Wolfpack.
The Lobos have now secured 23 straight home wins and are in a strong position to compete for the Mountain West Conference Championship.
They are currently tied for second place with Utah State Aggies at 7-2, trailing the first-place 8-1 San Diego
State Aztecs, and ranked 42nd in the NET.
Eric Olen’s New Mexico Lobos have, at this point, really overachieved at this point in the season compared to what most media preseason experts predicted about how well the Lobos would fare this year.
New Mexico’s outside shooting proved decisive when it mattered most. The Lobos made 12 of 28 three-pointers, increasing their lead with a 36–18 advantage from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Mountain West’s leading three-point shooting team in conference play before Saturday’s game struggled to find a rhythm, making only 6 of 23 shots from beyond the arc.
Nevada started the second half with a quick 9–0 run, widening their nine-point lead over New Mexico, and the PIT faithful began to get restless.
Nevertheless, the Lobos responded confidently, improving both their offense and defense when the game was on the line and when it mattered most to secure a Mountain West Conference win.
The Lobos shot 50% in the second half and made five of their last six field goals to finish the game, matching Nevada’s efforts with timely shots.
Jake Hall, the freshman point guard, once again played well, leading the Lobos with 19 points and five three-pointers.
He scored his second three-pointer of the game, bringing his total to 59 made threes in 20 games and establishing a new University of New Mexico freshman record.
Along with Hall’s scoring, Tomislav Buljan contributed a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
He was often double-teamed throughout the game. New Mexico head coach Eric Olen commended Buljan for his patience and pointed out that the Lobos’ consistent ability to generate good shots, even when Nevada doubled, played a key role in their success.
Buljan also fouled out eight times, drawing several fouls on Nevada’s big man, Elijah Price, who was limited to only 10 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.
Uriah Tenette scored 13 points, along with five assists and two steals. Additionally, JT Rock provided a strong spark off the bench with 11 points in less than nine minutes of play.
Although Nevada outrebounded New Mexico 42–38, the Lobos showed more effort on certain plays, converting 13 of 22 offensive rebounds into a 17–7 advantage in second-chance points and scoring 20 points off Nevada’s 12 turnovers.
Corey Camper Jr. from Nevada (14–6, 6–3 MW) led the team with 20 points. Vaughn Weems and Elijah Price each scored 16 points, and Tayshawn Comer finished with 13.
This marked Nevada’s fifth straight loss to New Mexico, making it their longest current losing streak against a Mountain West opponent.
Where the Win Stands in the Mountain West Conference
This win boosted New Mexico’s record to 16–4 overall and 7–2 in the Mountain West Conference, keeping the Lobos among the top teams in the conference standings.
New Mexico remains separated from most of the league thanks to its strong home record, and upcoming games will be pivotal as the Lobos travel to UNLV and San Jose State before returning home to face Utah State and Boise State. These four games will greatly influence the race for the Mountain West title.
At this point in the season, it’s not just about wins for the Lobos – it’s also about how they handle adversity, adjust their play, and finish games, all signs of a team striving for a Mountain West Conference Championship.
