UNM Lobos host the Wolfpack of Nevada on FS1
Game: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos
Date: Friday, January 3, 2025
Location: The Pit in Albuquerque, NM
Radio: Lobo Sports Network Play by Play Rob Portnoy/ Color Hunter Green
TV: FS1 play-by-play Derek Clarke and analyst Casey Jacobsen
The New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball team is set to host Nevada on Friday night in the 1,000th game played at The Pit.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m.; coverage will be on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network.
Lobo Fans are encouraged to wear white to participate in the “white out.” 1,000 T-shirts will be distributed throughout the evening to celebrate this milestone game.
New Mexico, boasting an 11-3 overall record (3-0 in Mountain West play), aims to achieve a 4-0 conference start for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
The team is coming off impressive road victories against Colorado State and Fresno State, with CJ Noland matching a career-high 23 points in the latter, marking the sixth Lobo to score 20 or more points this season.
Nevada, currently 8-6 overall and seeking its first Mountain West win after three losses, is led by Nick Davidson, who averages 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
While Nevada leads the all-time series 14-9, the Lobos have claimed victory in five of the last eight matchups at The Pit. Last season,
New Mexico swept Nevada with dominant wins of 89-55 at home and 83-82 on the road.
New Mexico is 11-3 on the season and is coming off a 103-89 win over Fresno State. Meanwhile, Nevada is coming off three straight losses, including a 69-64 loss to Utah State.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Wolf Pack Falls Short Against Wyoming, Lobos Stay Hot with Win Over Colorado State
The Nevada Wolf Pack fought hard but fell short in their recent clash against Wyoming, losing a tight contest 66-63
Both teams battled intensely, with Nevada committing 16 personal fouls compared to Wyoming’s 19.
The Cowboys capitalized from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 21 three-point attempts, and were nearly flawless at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 12 for an impressive 91.7%.
Wyoming also collected 19 rebounds (4 offensive, 15 defensive) while dishing out 10 assists and recording four steals.
Defensively, Nevada struggled to slow Wyoming’s efficient offense, allowing them to shoot 48.9% from the field (22 of 45).
Photo Courtesy of Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Nevada Wolf Pack: Last 5 Games
Over their last five outings, the Nevada Wolf Pack have posted a field goal percentage of 39.2% (21.8 made on 46.3 attempts per game) and a free throw-to-field goal attempt rate of 23.0%
From beyond the arc, they’ve recorded a three-point rate of 32.9% while maintaining a 46.6% success rate on two-point attempts.
Kobe Sanders has been a pivotal contributor for the Wolf Pack, accounting for 28.7% of the team’s assists, averaging 4.2 per game.
Sanders has also contributed 17.7% of the team’s points and secured 9.9% of their total rebounds.
Photo Credit: Jason Bean /USA Today
As a unit, the Wolf Pack are averaging 62.2 points and 23.5 rebounds per game during this stretch.
However, the Wolf Pack’s defense created 18 turnovers and earned 9 steals, showing resilience and determination despite the recent losses.
This is a promising sign if you’re a Wolfpack fan that they can bounce back in the upcoming games.
Offensively, Nevada shot 44.7% from the field (21 of 47) and was solid from the free-throw line, making 16 of 20 attempts (80.0%).
They also connected on 5 of their 11 three-point shots, demonstrating long-range efficiency.
Kobe Sanders stood out for Nevada, scoring 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting while adding two rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes of play.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Kobe Sanders’s Season Stats
Kobe Sanders has logged 409 minutes on the court this season, tallying 197 points. Defensively, he averages 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.
Over 13 games, Sanders is putting up 15.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per outing.
His season totals include 57 assists and 42 rebounds, with 5 coming on the offensive glass and 37 on defense.
Sanders has been efficient offensively, shooting 48.4% from the field and 43.6% from beyond the arc.
His free-throw accuracy stands at 78.9%, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%. His all-around game makes him a key player for Nevada.
His consistent performance was a bright spot in an otherwise tough outing for the Wolf Pack.
Now sitting at 8-5 on the season, Nevada averages 75.5 points per game (190th in Division 1) while shooting 49.3% from the field.
The team has been strong from deep, connecting on 41.7% of their three-point attempts, but their free-throw percentage of 69.9% leaves room for improvement.
Nevada also averages 33.9 rebounds and 205 total assists this season, ranking them 95th in Division 1 for playmaking.
Defensively, the Wolf Pack forces 12.2 turnovers per game while drawing 20.4 fouls from opponents.
They allow a field goal percentage of 41.5% and concede 30.5 rebounds per game.
Opponents are hitting 34.1% from beyond the arc against Nevada, with the team ranking 63rd in the nation in opponent points per game (66.2).
Despite the loss, Nevada’s solid offensive metrics and tenacious defense suggest they can bounce back in upcoming games.
New Mexico Lobos Secure 103-89 Win at Fresno State, Start Conference Play 3-0
The New Mexico men’s basketball team completed a two-game road sweep with an impressive 103-89 victory over Fresno State on Tuesday night at the Save Mart Center.
With the win, the Lobos (11-3, 3-0 MW) extended their streak to four games, marking their first 3-0 start in conference play since the 2015-16 season.
Mustapha Amzil and CJ Noland each poured in 23 points to lead the Lobos, with Noland matching his career high.
Donovan Dent contributed 18 points, Tru Washington added 14, and Nelly Junior Joseph recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Undoubtedly, this Richard Pitino Lobo team is surging with the production he is getting out of a deep bench.
At the post-interview CJ Noland: “We are out there playing at the end of the day…we are good basketball players, Coach Pitino believes in us, and our confidence is high.”
Between CJ Noland, Mustapha Amzil, Tru Washington, and Brayden Appelhans all stepping up on the offensive side, this Lobo team is now really playing well together.
How It Happened
The Lobos jumped out to an early 14-3 lead, fueled by a 12-0 run that included two three-pointers from Amzil.
The momentum continued as the lead expanded to 31-14 midway through the first half, peaking at 39-21 with six minutes remaining.
Despite a Fresno State push that cut the deficit to 10, New Mexico closed the half with a 7-0 run to enter the break up 53-36.
Amzil led the first-half charge with 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance.
In the second half, the Lobos extended their advantage to 62-43 within the first four minutes and maintained control with a 79-65 lead at the midway point.
Although Fresno State narrowed the gap to 86-75 with 5:30 remaining, New Mexico responded with an 8-0 surge to secure the win.
Lobo Highlights
- Breaking the Streak: The Lobos snapped an eight-game losing streak in Fresno, earning their first victory at the Save Mart Center since 2015-16.
- Offensive Explosion: New Mexico’s 103 points marked its highest total in a conference game since 2018, when they defeated Colorado State 108-87.
- First-Half Dominance: The 53 points in the opening half were the most in a road game for the Lobos since a 58-point first half at Colorado State in 2018.
- Bench Firepower: Noland became the sixth Lobo this season to score 20+ points in a game. His 23 points were the most off the bench since KJ Jenkins scored 26 at UNLV in 2022.
Quotable
“We haven’t won here in nine years, so this was great. It was a long trip after Colorado State, but we found a way to get it done. We had some great moments, but I’m frustrated by the final few minutes again. A 14-point win is good, but metrics show that a larger margin might matter. The first half was fantastic defensively. We were ready to go but need to be stronger on the ball at the end.”
— Richard Pitino
With a high-powered offense and room for growth defensively, the Lobos remain a formidable opponent as they progress through the season.
As the season progresses, Nevada and New Mexico remain teams to watch, each with unique strengths poised to shape their campaigns.
Prediction
New Mexico 79, Nevada 75
The Lobos claimed victory in the first meeting between these teams with a wire-to-wire performance during a stretch of nearly flawless play.
However, New Mexico has stumbled recently, dropping two straight home games, including an 80-77 loss to UNLV last Saturday, exposing some inconsistencies.
Despite these setbacks, New Mexico arguably possesses the most overall talent and the highest potential in the Mountain West.
Yet, their inconsistency has been a concern. The Lobos remain a challenging matchup for Nevada with their size and athleticism.
While the Wolf Pack has shown stronger form since their first encounter, New Mexico’s urgency for a signature road win after two home losses could make the difference.
Look for the Lobos to edge out Nevada and complete the season sweep in a closely contested game.
