New Mexico Opens Road Trip Saturday at Boise State
Lobos look for huge win
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Broncos looking to stay in first place
Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Boise State Broncos
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Location: ExtraMile Arena, Boise, Idaho
Time: 8:00 EST, 6:00 MST
TV: CBS Sports Network
Stream: FuboTV – Watch for free trial
Play by Play: Chris Lewis, Analyst: Mike O’Donell
Radio: 77kob Albuquerque 96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene
Overall Series: New Mexico leads 56-38
After winning three straight home games, the Boise State Broncos (20-8, 11-4 MWC) will host the New Mexico Lobos (21-7, 9-6 MWC)—the contest tips at 8:00 PM ET on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
The Lobos are 21-7 this season, 9-6 in the Mountain West, and are No. 25 in the NET. New Mexico is looking to secure its first conference-winning record since 2017-18 and its fifth Mountain West road win of the season.
This season, Boise State has posted a 15-12-1 record against the spread, slightly trailing behind New Mexico’s 17-10-0 ATS performance.
The Broncos have favored hitting the over in 15 matchups, while the Lobos have exceeded the total in 15 games.
In their recent ten contests, Boise State holds a solid 6-4 record against the spread, complemented by an overall 7-3 performance. Meanwhile, New Mexico has maintained a balanced 5-5 ATS record and a 6-4 overall standing in its last ten games.
Boise State is 20-8 overall and is tied for the Mountain West lead with an 11-4 record. The Broncos have won four straight games by an average margin of 26.75 points. Tyson Degenhart leads Boise State by averaging 16.8 points per game.
Boise State won the season’s first meeting, 86-78, on January 31 at The Pit, with Max Rice scoring a career-high 35 points.
The Lobos are looking to snap a five-game losing streak at ExtraMile Arena, with their last win in Boise coming in 2016-17.
In a high-stakes showdown on the hardwood, the New Mexico Lobos (21-7) are gearing up to square off against the Boise State Broncos (20-8) in a rematch that promises to be a thriller.
This clash comes from their previous encounter on January 31, which saw the Broncos snatch victory with a score of 86-78.
Now, the Lobos are thirsty for redemption, eyeing a chance to flip the script and bolster their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Currently projected as one of the Last Four Byes in the NCAA Tournament, the Lobos know that a triumph in this game could solidify their standing in the tournament field.
The way other MWC teams are playing, for example, would be UNLV; the Lobos must gain traction to show what fans saw at the beginning of the season was no accident.
This time of year before the NCAA tournament, teams should be betting stronger, not weaker.
The teams that do that make runs in the tournament. At this point in the season, you should know what you are as a team, strengths and weaknesses, plain and simple.
Despite a recent setback against the Air Force, New Mexico remains a force to be reckoned with, boasting a 9-6 record in the Mountain West.
But make no bones about it, and if there ever was a “Come to Jesus Moment” for Richard Pitinos Lobos, this game should be a huge wake-up call for them.
Air Force looked focused and played smart basketball, while the more talented Lobos looked relaxed, and one could say that they played catchup the whole game.
This, being one of the most talented teams in the MWC, has got to understand that this time of year, you are going to get everybody’s best shot, so you had better be mentally prepared, plain and simple.
When this year’s team comes in focused and ready to play ball as a team, they can beat anybody in the MWC at home or away, and they are that talented.
The Lobos have one of the best three guard lineups in the West with Dent, House and Mashburn.
But Senior gaurds must understand when playing good defense and getting into foul trouble does not help your team, smart players help teams win games especially this time of year.
With just two games behind the league leaders, they’re determined to climb higher in the conference standings.
On the flip side, Boise State sits tied for first place in the Mountain West with an 11-4 record, showcasing its prowess as a formidable opponent.
The Broncos’ recent dominance, including a resounding win over Air Force, underscores their status as a force in the conference race.
With both teams hungry for success, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the ExtraMile Arena.
However, the Lobos’ quest for redemption comes on the heels of a bitter defeat against Air Force, marking their worst loss of the season.
Despite a valiant effort, highlighted by standout performances from Nelly Junior-Joseph and Jamal Mashburn Jr., New Mexico fell short in the closing moments, succumbing to a clutch three-pointer from Air Force’s Rytis Petraitis.
Now, with their sights set on Boise State, the Lobos are determined to bounce back with a vengeance.
As the clock ticks down to tipoff, anticipation mounts for what promises to be a riveting clash between two powerhouse programs.
With NCAA Tournament implications hanging in the balance, the stage is set for a showdown of epic proportions as the Lobos and Broncos prepare to battle it out on the hardwood.
Some key players in this game for Boise State”: Tyson Degenhart paces his team in points per game (16.8) and puts up 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
O’Mar Stanley tops his team in rebounds per contest (6.2), averaging 13.1 points and 1.5 assists.
For the Lobos: JT Toppin leads the Lobos with an impressive 8.8 rebounds per game while also contributing 12.1 points and 0.5 assists on average.
Additionally, he showcases his defensive prowess with 1.0 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per game.
Donovan Dent distributes the ball for the Lobos, dishing out 5.5 assists per game.
Alongside his playmaking, he adds 15.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest. Dent also demonstrates his defensive skills with 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocked shots per game.
Nelly Junior Joseph makes his presence felt with 9.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Lobos. Additionally, he contributes 1.0 assists per contest while impacting defense with 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game.
Look for your typical Mountain West Conference game, very physical in the paint, good guard play and lots of emotion as it always is with these two teams.
I look for the Lobos to have a bounce game from the loss at Air Force. They have yet to lose two games in a row this year and you can bet Boise State wants to change that.
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