2024 Mountain West Championship: New Mexico Secures First MWC Tournament Title in Over a Decade with 68-61 win over SDSU

Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61 Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a …

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 Game Recap: No. 6 New Mexico 68, No. 5 San Diego State 61


Jaelen House get’s his moment & secures his first MWC title in his last conference game.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico secures first conference tournament title in a decade, thanks to the play of Jaelen House & JT Toppin.

Las Vegas, NV–If there were any better cherry on top of what has been one of the more competitive & entertaining Mountain West seasons in recent years, it was the championship game slated for Saturday afternoon in sin city. A showdown between longtime conference rivals No. 5 seed San Diego State & No. 6 seed New Mexico.

Two teams that may not have been on everyone’s bracket in the MWC Tournament title game, but two deserving programs nonetheless. New Mexico won three straight games in three straight days to get here. Beating Air Force on Wednesday (82-56), Boise State (76-66) on Thursday & Colorado State (74-61) late Friday night.

While San Diego State got a bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday, where they narrowly squeezed by UNLV 74-71. Then upsetting No. 1 seed & regular season champion Utah State 86-70 on Friday.

It isn’t unfamiliar territory for either program, but it’s been a second home for one & a once in a while destination for the other. San Diego State have become fixtures in the Mountain West Tournament title game the last decade. Making nine appearances in ten years & cutting the nets down four times in that span.

While New Mexico made a Cinderella style run in Paul Weir’s first season in Albuquerque back in 2018. That game was also against the Aztecs & their “first year” Head Coach Brian Dutcher. The Lobos fell 82-75 to their conference rivals that year.

Missing out on the title, one they haven’t brought home to Albuquerque since Craig Neals first year in charge in Albuquerque back in 2014. Noodles inherited a Steve Alford built roster to help lift that trophy. With history & an automatic berth to the big dance on the line, each team needed to cap amazing individual seasons with an amazing win Saturday afternoon.

The Lobos momentum was still in full swing at tip-off. Hitting the floor hard in the opening minutes on a 6-2 run. A Darrion Trimmell three pointer brought the Aztecs to within one. Sparked by Jaelen Houses’ energy, New Mexico found their offensive rhythm, though San Diego State kept things close.

Richard Pitino’s squad enjoyed small runs all throughout the first half. The first thanks to five straight Jamal Mashburn Jr. points, giving New Mexico their biggest lead to that point, 16-8 approaching the ten minute mark. To be followed with four straight three point field goals (3-House & 1-Mashburn Jr.) to extend their lead to double-digits, 30-18.

After a JT Toppin layup gave the Lobos the 34-20 lead approaching the two minute mark, the Aztecs made their stand. Going on a 10-2 run before half-time, with all points coming in the paint from their frontcourt duo of Jay Pal & JaeDon LeDee. As the buzzer sounded, New Mexico went into the locker rooms up 36-30.

Second Half

Even though the Lobos surrendered the closing minutes of the first half to the Aztecs, they wouldn’t let that influence how they emerged from half-time. Earning a quick five points from their backcourt duo before San Diego State decided it was time to put the clamp down.

The Aztecs fell victim to New Mexico’s fast pace style of play most of the game. Leading to their deficit & leadless first half. But Brian Dutcher’s squad wins their games in a much slower & physically charged way. San Diego State made a stand that would turn what was a comfortable Lobo lead most of the game into a one procession dogfight the rest of the way.

The Aztecs would turn to a style of play called, pass the ball to Jaedon. A play that would see LeDee vie for position in the post, receive the ball & eight times out of ten get fouled & head to the line. The other two times out of ten he would make the shot.

Creating quite a conundrum for New Mexico, who became spooked & decided their approach would be fouling the Aztec big to make him earn his points at the free throw line. Well, it sounded nice in theory. But LeDee came into this one shooting 72.4% from the free throw line. LeDee would go to the line multiple times over the next ten minutes, slowing the game down & taking New Mexico out of their offensive rhythm almost immediately.

A Jaelen House technical foul approaching the ten minute mark would trigger a series of plays that ultimately gave San Diego State their first lead of the game at 44-43 thanks to a Reese Waters jumper.

The next ten minutes were an exchange of free throws with a few genuine field goals scattered about. It brought everything down to the final two minutes of the game. Were both squads were tied at fifty-nine a piece, a time where the only way New Mexico would pull the upset would be if someone scored true field goals & rebounded when their opponents didn’t.

In comes MWC Freshman of the Year JT Toppin, Who grabbed four rebounds & scored five points, which became the cushion needed for third year Head Coach Richard Pitino to secure his first conference title.

The Lobos began to celebrate their 68-61 win at the buzzer, as the first No. 6 seed to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament ever. Jamal Mashburn Jr. joined House & Toppin in double-figures 21 points thanks to some very clutch shooting from all three-levels of scoring.

Player Spotlights

New MexicoJT Toppin & Jaelen House

Stat line: House-28 points, 5 rebounds & 3 steals on 10-22 (45.4%) from the floor & 3-7 (42.8%) from deep in 36 minutes of action Toppin-13 points & 11 rebounds on 6-8 (75%) from the floor in 35 minutes of action

The performance House had in the first half is the reason the Lobos were able to stay competitive as the Aztecs began chipping away at their grip on the lead. But it was also his level head in the second half as his team struggled, continuing to give effort & not letting it get to his head. His game high 28 points help attribute to an amazing final MWC game ever. And to go out cutting down the nets in the Pit West, there is no better feeling.

JT Toppin stepped up with his double-double as frontcourt mate Nelly Junior-Joseph was mainly tasked with keeping Aztec x-factor LeDee unimpactful until he absolutely couldn’t. So Toppin contributed in all the best ways down low, blocking & altering shots, securing boards of both variety & making shots when no one else could. I couldn’t give the spotlight to just one players as the game was won with the performances of both.

San Diego State F-Jaedon LeDee

Stat line: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists on 7-12 shooting (58.3%) from the floor & a whopping 11-11 (100%) from the free throw line in 37 minutes of play

LeDee went scoreless in the first fifteen minutes of the game. Which is something no one realized until he began scoring every single minutes of the game going forward. The Aztec big man found his confidence late in the first half & found his role going forward, wrecking ball who can shoot free throws, exactly to his liking. LeDee can score at all three levels but is his most consistent battling for space in the paint.

No other Aztec scored in double-figures & his 100% performance from the charity stripe is the a huge piece of why the momentum of the game was laid gently in their hands most of the second-half. It was an All-Tournament level performance for the ages, a great way to cap a great career in the Mountain West.

Next Up:

With the final buzzer in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the conference postseason comes to a close with an incredible performance from all teams involved. The only thing left to do is tune in tomorrow Sunday March 17th for this year’s production of the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

You can watch Selection Sunday on CBS at 4:00 PM MT & 3:00 PM PT. A streamed version of the show can be viewed on NCAA.com during their March Madness Live Special.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico

Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85 Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first …

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 Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85


Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first outright MWC title.

Logan, UT–As some teams were engaging in conference tournament championship games around the country. Teams in the Mountain West were still clashing for seeding for their own conference tournament next week in Las Vegas. Part of what could be described as “seeding musical chairs” on Saturday was what could absolutely turn into a dogfight in Logan.

New Mexico packed their bags & headed northwest. Ready to end their season on a win & looking for the sweep over league leaders No. 22 Utah State inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The last time these two met was on January 16th, back when a red hot Lobo team secured the 99-86 upset over the then No. 16 Aggies inside the Pit. And even though New Mexico has cooled off plenty since that magical run in January.

They’ve proven in the very recent past that they can beat Utah State. Something not many others have been able to say this season. With plenty on the line Saturday night, both teams put on an absolute show in Logan.

The Lobos got things started quite quickly as they normally do. With back-to-back field goals by star freshman JT Toppin in a span of about 13 seconds or so. Utah State stayed right with them after several free throws & a dunk by Ian Martinez, which gave them their first lead of the game at 7-6.

The reoccurring theme of the night would be the toe-to-toe style and pace of the game throughout. As both teams exchanged field goals with a tie at 10 a piece thanks to another Toppin layup down low & once again at 12 a piece thanks to a Nelly Junior Joseph layup soon after, both assisted by Jaelen House.

Both teams found plenty of success scoring in the paint. In fact, all scoring was done exclusively inside the arc or at the free throw line until Mustapha Amzil drained a three pointer eight minutes into the first half to bring New Mexico to within one (22-21). This after a 6-0 Utah State run gave them some breathing room until the Lobos regained their scoring form.

Amzil would find his confidence from beyond the arc in the first half Saturday night, scoring the next six Lobo points from deep to keep his squad neck and neck with Danny Sprinkle’s team. Scoring again on a layup before receiving some help via two more layups from Toppin & House.

For Utah State the three-headed attack of Brown II, Martinez & Osobor kept their guests at bay in the first half. Struggling from deep (1-8), but finding layup after layup in the lane with their offensive chemistry on full display.

New Mexico gained their first lead (39-38) since the opening few minutes thanks to a pair of Jaelen House free throws approaching the three minute mark. Javon Jackson would send him back to the line after a missed Osobor jumper on the other end. House’s clutch gene kicked in once again as he drained both free throws to extend the Lobo lead to four (42-38) approaching the two minute mark in the half.

Both teams would close the half on a rather cold note. Missing the next eight field goal attempts combined before a Martinez free throw went in for Utah State. To be followed up by what Donovan Dent does best, a layup on the other end to extend New Mexico’s lead to 44-39 before the half-time buzzer sounded.

The first half was certainly a toe-to-toe bout. With Sprinkle’s aforementioned three-pronged attack leading the way. As Great Osobor lead all scorers with 15 points & 6 rebounds, Ian Martinez being the other Aggie in double-figures with 11 points & Brown II being the catalyst for most of it with 9 points of his own to go along with 5 assists & 4 rebounds.

Without Amzil’s hotstreak in the middle of the half, New Mexico would be playing catchup after the break. Entering half-time with 13 points, primarily off of his stellar 3-4 (75%) shooting performance from deep.

JT Toppin was the other Lobo in double figures with 10 points off of 5-7 (71.4%) shooting. House posted numbers similar to his Aggie counterpart with 9 points, 5 rebounds & 4 assists, playing a similar role for the visiting squad.

The Aggies were not ready to lose their sole possession of the conference championship to New Mexico that easily. They opened the second-half with a 6-0 run thanks to three different players scoring the ball to retake the lead.

Donovan Dent scored New Mexico’s first points of the half with back-to-back driving layups to take back the lead at 48-47. Ian Martinez capitalized on a House turnover with a three pointer giving that lead right back to Utah State.

Out of a commercial timeout Josh Uduje earned his first two points of the game with two free throws to extend the Aggie lead out to 52-48. Only for that lead to be chopped at by House’s first three pointer of the game on the other end.

Each side would exchange a few made field goals after that to rapidly progress the score to 60-57 in just a few minutes of time. Keeping the style & pace of the game fast and effective. The Lobos began relying on three point attempts, finding plenty of success (2-3) while the Aggies made their money any which way they could, mainly at the free throw line.

Baker Jr.’s second three-pointer of the half drove Utah State to call a timeout as the Lobo’s 65-59 lead was setting the scene for a dangerous run. Which when hot, Richard Pitino’s group are as impossible as anyone in the country to catch up with. Just ask the Aggies, who fell victim to such a hot streak back in mid-January in Albuquerque.

Out of the timeout each side would attempt to bank on three pointers to gain a fast edge, neither succeeded. Though after a media timeout gave each side time to once again regroup, Utah State came out swinging. With back-to-back buckets at the rim, shrinking the Lobo lead to just one point, after a Martinez and one opportunity (65-64).

Two more made field goals around the basket kept things close going forward. As JT Toppin began to rediscover his touch around the basket for four straight New Mexico points.

In the midst of a relatively quite night, Mason Falslev drove to the hoop for another layup. Keeping his team to within one point & within striking distance of what was becoming a paper thin Lobo lead.

Another media timeout gave time for Coach Pitino’s group to stop the bleeding & assess the damage before sending Brown II to the free throw line. Those two opportunities he would sink, giving the Aggies back the lead for the first time in over seven minutes.

Dent would tie it up again with a free throw of his own before Martinez sank his third triple of the night on the other end (73-70). He would go on to send Junior-Joseph to the line on the defensive side.

Even after making only one of his two opportunities, Junior-Joseph found a way to tie things up once again with a layup following an Osobor turnover. Keeping fans inside the Spectrum on the edge of their seats as time wound down.

House received his 4th foul of the night soon after, sending Brown II to the line for two more free throws & himself to the bench out of caution with five minutes left to play. As Brown II drained his seventh free throw of the game on one side, Junior-Joseph tied things up once again on the other.

Uduje threw a wrench into the pound for pound style of play with a three pointer. Amzil drained a two-point jumper on the other end to keep New Mexico in it. Now down by just one at 78-77. Soon after he found himself at the charity stripe with a chance to take the lead. Amzil would go 1-2 and tie things up at 78 a piece.

Kalifa Sakho made two huge free throws on the other end to give Utah State the 80-78 lead with a little over two minutes to go in the game. Following a missed House jumper, Falslev drove to the basket in transition to give the Aggies a four point lead. Donovan Dent followed suit with a driving layup of his own to make it a one possession game again.

Sakho would turn the ball over after a New Mexico timeout but Toppin couldn’t capitalize on the other end missing an opportunity down low. Osobor secured the defensive rebound but Martinez couldn’t capitalize himself on the other end.

With a little over a minute left to go an Osobor offensive rebound & miss down low led to a official review under the two minute mark as the ball flew out of bounds.

After the suspense, New Mexico would receive the ball. With the chance to take the lead, the ball went to Donovan Dent. And the super sophomore made it look easy with the game tying layup.

As all seemed destined for overtime, Ian Martinez dunked it home on the other end to give them the 84-82 lead with forty seconds left to go in this nail bitter. You can’t ever tell Jaelen House it’s a lost cause though, as he received the inbound pass, sprinted to the other & drained the two point jumper.

With things all tied up, the ball went into the hands of Utah State’s most experienced player, Darius Brown II. As time chipped away the ball left his hands & the possible game winning three pointer found the bottom of the net to signal the thunderous applause of the home crowd.

As expected, New Mexico took the timeout to set up a possible game tying three pointer. Uduje committed the quick fouled to send House to the line, to take the possible three pointer out of the equation.

After an extremely clutch jumper in their last possession, House would make the first free throw & prepare to miss the second. As only a missed free throw would give New Mexico the chance to send things to overtime with a second chance field goal.

To add insult to injury, House would proceed to miss the second free throw & some questionable play calling (or lack there of) would ensue. Though it didn’t matter. As the final buzzer sounded, students rightfully stormed the court after an extremely successful season & Utah State earned the outright regular season championship after their 87-85 win on senior night.

Coach Pitino would go on to petition the officiating crew after House’s second free throw appeared to have not touched the rim. Something that if noticed & called by the referees would have reset the play & put a few seconds back on the clock. It might not have mattered, but it was an oversight. No such decision was made & both teams called it a night.

The visiting Lobos played valiantly, giving fans across the nation a show the Mountain West is becoming known to produce. Leaving Logan with four players in double-figures, a double-double from Nelly Junior-Joseph (13 points & 10 rebounds) & extremely solid play from it’s stars.

New Mexico fans can only buck up, after losing to the now official Mountain West Regular Season Champions & prepare for the trip next week.

It is the Aggies first outright Mountain West title ever. Not to mention the cherry on top of would could be argued as the most impressive inaugural season for a coach ever by Danny Sprinkle. Who is already seeing his name tied to openings in the upcoming coaching carousel before his team even finishes the season.

To complete the full sweep next week in Las Vegas would be something special. Which, is something this team is totally equipped to do after being picked to finish 9th way back in October of last year.

Player Spotlights

New Mexico FMustapha Amzil

Stat line: 18 points, 5 rebounds & 2 assists on 6-8 (75%) from the floor & 3-5 (60%) from deep in 32 minutes off of the bench.

On a team filled with capable scorers, Amzil managed to come off of the bench & be the difference maker for New Mexico Saturday night. Yes, his team didn’t win.

But I don’t think anyone would argue that the Lobos wouldn’t have even come close to a down to the wire performance in Logan without Amzil’s three point shooting & off the bench production His team high 18 points also helped fill the scoring gap left by Jamal Mashburn Jr. as he sat out entirely with an injury.

Utah State G-Darius Brown II

Stat line: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals & 9 assists on 5-9 shooting (55.5%) from the floor, 7-9 (77.7%) from the line & 1 game winner in 39 minutes of action

Brown II showed everyone why he is gearing up for his likely third NCAA Tournament appearance Saturday night. The graduate transfer helped secure Utah State’s first outright Mountain West title with a beautifully clutch game winning three pointer as time expired.

Along with the biggest play of the game he made others, nearly logging an assist featured double-double with 9 assists & only four turnovers. As a few of his teammates waivered in the second-half, he stayed locked in.

Next Up:

With the wrap to the regular season coming tonight, both teams pack their bags & prepare for a trip oh so many of us make in our life. Straight through to Las Vegas baby.

The Lobos haven’t cut down the nets inside the Thomas & Mack center since Craig Neal’s first season in charge over a decade ago. This team has shown brilliant flashes this season, but will head to Vegas as a bottom half seed with their work cut out for them.

While the Aggies haven’t gotten the chance to climb the ladder inside the Thomas & Mack Center since Craig Smith’s first season back in 2018-2019. The same year they shared their last regular season title with Nevada.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT

New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT Lobos looking to defend home court Follow @MWCwire New Mexico taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs The New Mexico Lobos (21-8, 9-7 MWC) and the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-18, 4-12 MWC) will face …

New Mexico Lobos host Fresno State Bulldogs at the PIT


Lobos looking to defend home court


Follow @MWCwire

New Mexico taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs

The New Mexico Lobos (21-8, 9-7 MWC) and the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-18, 4-12 MWC) will face off at The Pit in what the oddsmaker predicts to be a lopsided matchup, with heavily favored New Mexico projected to win 83-65.

But this year’s ups and downs in the world of college basketball, especially in the Mountain West Conference, never say never as they say.  =≠=

Head Lobo coach Richard Pitino is aware of losing to Quad four Air Force last week and how his Lobos cannot afford to take any team lightly. 

The New Mexico men’s basketball team is gearing up for an emotional Senior Night showdown as they prepare to close out their home schedule against Fresno State at The Pit on Wednesday night. 

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 pm, with fans able to catch the action on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network local radio in Albuquerque.  

In a heartfelt tribute, Senior Night will honor Jemarl Baker, Jr., Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, Jr., and Isaac Mushila before the game, recognizing their contributions and dedication to the team. 

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 

Location: The PIT in Albuquerque

Time: 10:30 ET, 8:30 MST

TV: FOX Sports Networks 

STREAM: FuboTV – get a free trial

Radio:  77kob Albuquerque 96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene

“The one thing about both of those guys, and it can be maddening at times, they pour their heart and soul into it,” Pitino said of House and Mashburn on Tuesday. “And that’s why I have stuck with them many times because they put in the work. They care. … Effort has never been an issue. They show great leadership in a variety of ways. …

“There’s been so many, just amazing, memories. I remember walking in here in year one and the building’s half empty. And now we’re getting to a point where our last crowd is 15,000. And they deserve a lot of that credit.” 

A recurring theme in Coach Pitino’s press conferences is his profound appreciation and respect for his players and the dedication they demonstrate in practice with their hard work ethic.

It’s no surprise that players relish the opportunity to play under his leadership, and many highly talented athletes have chosen to commit to the Lobo program with Pitino at the helm. 

It’s a recipe for success, as it includes the chance to compete in one of the nation’s premier college basketball arenas, the PIT. 

Despite the number of losses this year at the PIT, one can watch other venues in college basketball and its stands alone in its whole atmosphere for college basketball. 

The Lobos, with a season record of 21-8 and a Mountain West standing of 9-7, are determined to bounce back from their recent two-game skid.

Last week’s loss to Boise State in Idaho was the first time all year that the Lobo basketball team had lost more than two in a row. 

JT Toppin’s stellar performance against Boise State earned him his record-tying ninth Mountain West Freshman of the Week award, further highlighting the team’s depth with three players averaging 15.0 points per game.

On the opposing side, Fresno State (11-18 overall, 4-12 Mountain West) looks to regroup after a recent loss to Nevada. 

Spearheaded by Isaiah Hill, who averages 12.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, the Bulldogs aim to put up a strong fight.

This game marks the sole meeting of the season between the two teams. In their last encounter, the Lobos secured a decisive 94-80 victory on Senior Night at The Pit, ending Fresno State’s seven-game win streak in the series. 

With the season’s final home game looming, both teams are gearing up for an unforgettable showdown on the court. 

The Bulldogs are desperate for a victory, while the Lobos strategically position themselves for the Mountain West Conference in La Vegas and the NCAA Tournament.

 Most analysts are forecasting a commanding 83-65 victory in favor of the Lobos; the anticipation for a one-sided affair is palpable.

New Mexico has a record of 16-11-0 against the spread this season, whereas Fresno State stands at 13-14-0.

Regarding surpassing the point total, the Lobos hold a 15-12-0 record, while the Bulldogs boast a 17-10-0 record.

 Over the past ten games, New Mexico has achieved a 4-6 record against the spread and a 5-5 overall record.

 Conversely, Fresno State has managed a 6-4 record against the spread and a 3-7 overall record in its most recent ten matches.

In their recent showdown against Nevada, the Fresno State Bulldogs faced a tough 74-66 defeat, marking their fifth consecutive loss.

Despite a decent shooting performance with a 42.6% field goal percentage and hitting 7 of their 23 three-point attempts, the Bulldogs couldn’t quite rally back.

They converted 13 of 18 free throw attempts, securing a 72.2% success rate from the charity Stripe.

However, they struggled to contain Nevada on the defensive end, allowing them to shoot 53.1% from the field.

Isaiah Hill emerged as a standout performer for Fresno State. In his 40 minutes on the court, he scored 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting and contributed five rebounds and four assists.

With an overall season record of 11-18, the Bulldogs have been grappling with turnovers, averaging 12.6 per game and committing 15.4 fouls per contest.

While they have demonstrated prowess in rebounding, averaging 31.3 boards per game, their offensive efficiency has been lacking, shooting just 33.5% from beyond the arc and 67.1% from the free throw line.

Defensively, Fresno State aims to improve. It forces opponents into turnovers and fouls but struggles to contain its shooting, allowing a field goal percentage of 46.4% and conceding 72.9 points per game.

On the other side of the court, the New Mexico Lobos suffered an 89-79 loss against Boise State in their latest matchup.

 Despite a commendable effort with 24 defensive rebounds and 11 offensive boards, the Lobos fell short.

 J.T. Toppin emerged as a key contributor, scoring 21 points in 27 minutes of play, although he finished the game without recording an assist.

With a season record of 21-8, the Lobos boast a formidable offense, averaging 82.6 points per game and shooting 46.5% from the field. 

However, they have room for improvement defensively. They allow opponents to shoot 43.2% from the field and concede an average of 71.7 points per game.

As both teams gear up for their upcoming matchups, they’ll be looking to address their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths to secure crucial victories on the court.

Toppin’s outstanding performance against Boise State, highlighted by 21 points, eight rebounds (including four offensive rebounds), three blocks, two steals, and shooting 9-of-12 from the field, earned him not only the Mountain West Freshman of the Week award but also his ninth recognition of the season.

He seems a shoo-in for the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year award; he has been impressive in every game he has played.

Another candidate for MWC freshman of the year is UNLV’s Freshman Guard. Dedan Thomas Jr. for the Rebels, who was great this year at the guard spot. 

  JT Toppin has looked dominant for Richard Pitino’s Lobos in a very tough MWC, especially if one looks at the great post players; he is getting those rebounds and points. 

New Mexico aims to bolster its credentials for the Big Dance as it prepares to host a struggling Fresno State squad in a pivotal Mountain West Conference showdown.

Guard Jamal Mashburn acknowledged in today’s Lobos presser that this is a must-win game for his team, and they are very focused on coming out on top. 

Fresh off a disappointing two-game losing streak, the Lobos are looking to regain their momentum, sitting precariously on the bubble with a 21-8 record. 

Meanwhile, Fresno State enters this matchup on a five-game skid, desperately seeking a turnaround.

The Bulldogs’ lackluster 11-18 overall record and third-to-last place in the MWC standings, with a 4-12 conference record, indicate that they are facing an uphill battle.

Fresno State faltered in their recent outing against Nevada, unable to mount a comeback after being outscored by 13 points in the first half.

 Despite some standout performances, including Isaac Taveras’ season-high 16 points, the Bulldogs succumbed to a 74-66 defeat.

Fresno State faces significant challenges with key players like Donavan Yap Jr. sidelined due to injury and uncertainty surrounding leading rebounder Enoch Boakye’s availability.

Offensively, Fresno State has struggled to find consistency, averaging just 68.1 points per game while conceding an average of 72.9 points.

 With leading scorers like Isaiah Hill and Xavier DuSell aiming to ignite their offense, the Bulldogs hope to turn the tide.

Both teams understand the importance of securing a crucial victory as the showdown looms.

Expect a fiercely contested battle in the hardwood, with New Mexico aiming to solidify its postseason aspirations and Fresno State desperate for a turnaround.

 Boasting a solid 12-3 record in home games and a commendable 4-2 track record in nail-biting encounters, the Lobos exude confidence heading into this matchup.

Conversely, the Bulldogs have struggled in the Mountain West Conference, mustering only four wins out of sixteen games.

 Despite the valiant effort led by Enoch Boakye, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, Fresno State has faced an uphill battle this season.

New Mexico holds a significant advantage in terms of offensive prowess, averaging 82.6 points per game compared to Fresno State’s 68.1.

 Defensively, the Lobos also maintained an edge, allowing 71.7 points per game, whereas the Bulldogs allowed 72.9.

As the Lobos and Bulldogs collide for the first time in MWC play this season, all eyes will be on the top performers.

 Donovan Dent, Jaelen House, and Jamal Mashburn lead the charge for New Mexico at the guard spot while JT Toppin, Nelly Jr Joseph lead in the paint. 

The Lobos have maintained a steady performance in their previous ten outings, with a 5-5 record. At the same time, the Bulldogs aim to break free from a five-game losing streak.

As the clock ticks closer to tip-off, anticipation mounts, promising an exhilarating showdown between these two basketball titans. With both teams hungry for victory, the stage is set for a gripping battle at The Pit.

You can bet that the Lobos Seniors Jemarl Baker, Jr., Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, Jr. and Isaac Mushila want to go out as winners in the infamous PIT in Albuquerque. 

Prediction: New Mexico 83, Fresno State 65 

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New Mexico Opens Road Trip Saturday at Boise State

New Mexico Opens Road Trip Saturday at Boise State Lobos look for huge win Follow @MWCwire 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 …

New Mexico Opens Road Trip Saturday at Boise State


Lobos look for huge win


Follow @MWCwire

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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2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule The schedule is out! Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Get ready for some football! The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes. The league …

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule


The schedule is out!


Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Get ready for some football!

The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes.

The league includes Washington State and Oregon State which are quasi-members of the Mountain West.

Those two schools will play seven games against the Mountain West but they are not eligible to win the conference title.

Television assignments for Fox and CBS will be released at a later date.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Delaware State at Hawai‘i
SMU at Nevada
Montana State at New Mexico

Thursday, Aug. 29

Sacramento State at San José State

Saturday, Aug. 31

Merrimack at Air Force
Boise State at Georgia Southern
Colorado State at Texas
Fresno State at Michigan
UCLA at Hawai‘i
Nevada at Troy
New Mexico at Arizona
Texas A&M Commerce at San Diego State
UNLV at Houston
Robert Morris at Utah State
Wyoming at Arizona State
Idaho State at Oregon State
Portland State at Washington State

Saturday, September 7

San José State at Air Force
Boise State at Oregon
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Sacramento State at Fresno State
Georgia Southern at Nevada
Oregon State at San Diego State
Utah Tech at UNLV
Utah State at USC
Idaho at Wyoming
Texas Tech at Washington State

Saturday, September 14

Air Force at Baylor
Colorado at Colorado State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Hawai‘i at Sam Houston
Nevada at Minnesota
New Mexico at Auburn
San Diego State at California
Kennesaw State at San José State
UNLV vs. KansasUtah at Utah State
BYU at Wyoming
Oregon at Oregon State
Washington State vs. Washington

Saturday, September 21

Portland State at Boise State
UTEP at Colorado State
Fresno State at New Mexico
Northern Iowa at Hawai‘i
Eastern Washington at Nevada
San José State at Washington State
Utah State at Temple
Wyoming at North Texas
Purdue at Oregon State

Saturday, September 28

Air Force at Wyoming
Washington State at Boise State
Fresno State at UNLV
New Mexico at New Mexico State
San Diego State at Central Michigan

Saturday, October 5

Navy at Air Force
Utah State at Boise State
Colorado State at Oregon State
Hawai‘i at San Diego State
Nevada at San José State
Syracuse at UNLV

Saturday, October 12

Air Force at New Mexico
Boise State at Hawai‘i
San José State at Colorado State
Washington State at Fresno State
Oregon State at Nevada
San Diego State at Wyoming
UNLV at Utah State

Saturday, October 19

Colorado State at Air Force
Fresno State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Washington State
New Mexico at Utah State
Wyoming at San José State
UNLV at Oregon State

Saturday, October 26

Boise State at UNLV
New Mexico at Colorado State
San José State at Fresno State
Nevada at Hawai‘i
Washington State at San Diego State
Utah State at Wyoming
Oregon State at California

Saturday, November 2

Air Force at Army
San Diego State at Boise State
Colorado State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Fresno State
Wyoming at New Mexico

Saturday, November 9

Fresno State at Air Force
Nevada at Boise State
UNLV at Hawai‘i
New Mexico at San Diego State
San José State at Oregon State
Utah State at Washington State

Saturday, November 16

Oregon State at Air Force
Boise State at San José State
Wyoming at Colorado State
Hawai‘i at Utah State
Washington State at New Mexico
San Diego State at UNLV

Saturday, November 23

Air Force at Nevada
Boise State at Wyoming
Colorado State at Fresno State
San Diego State at Utah State
UNLV at San José State
Washington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 30

Air Force at San Diego State
Oregon State at Boise State
Utah State at Colorado State
Fresno State at UCLA
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nevada at UNLV
Stanford at San José State
Wyoming at Washington State

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Colorado State vs. New Mexico Square off at the Pit

Colorado State vs. New Mexico Square off at the Pit Huge game for Rams vs. Lobos Follow @MWCwire Will home court prevail? In a Mountain West Conference showdown, the New Mexico Lobos (20-6, 8-5 MWC) will host the No. 22 Colorado State Rams (20-6, …

Colorado State vs. New Mexico Square off at the Pit


Huge game for Rams vs. Lobos


Follow @MWCwire

Will home court prevail?

In a Mountain West Conference showdown, the New Mexico Lobos (20-6, 8-5 MWC) will host the No. 22 Colorado State Rams (20-6, 8-5 MWC) at home on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. ET.

On Wednesday night, the New Mexico men’s basketball team seeks its third upset against a ranked opponent this season as they welcome No. 22 Colorado State to The Pit.

  • Matchup: UNM Lobos (20-6) 8-5 vs. CSU (20-6) 8-5  in MWC
  • Date/Time: Wednesday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m. MST
  • Location: The PIT in Albuquerque 
  • TV Channel: CBS Sports Network, Direct TV 221, Dish 158 
  • Play by Play: Rich Waltz, color Avery Johnson
  • STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial

The Mountain West basketball season has been a wild ride, full of highs and lows for fans of the top-tier teams in the hunt for being the top dog in their conference. 

Consider this: with seven teams within 1.5 games of first place in the league standings midweek and unable to sustain a winning streak longer than two games, there’s little time for teams to relish their victories before facing another formidable opponent.

It’s challenging for teams to bask in a win when they know they’ll be up against another formidable rival in just a few days.

Thus, these teams must navigate through the emotional ups and downs, refocus to take on other contenders vying for the conference championship, and ultimately aim for a spot in the NCAA tournament, the big dance.

New Mexico (20-6, 8-5 Mountain West) has been a perfect example of the ups and downs characteristic of this season in the Mountain West. 

As of Tuesday, every major NCAA Tournament projection indicates that the conference could send six teams to the Big Dance.

This matchup marks the first time since 2012-13, against San Diego State, that two Top-30 teams, according to KenPom rankings, clash in The Pit. 

New Mexico aims for its third win against an AP Top 25 team this season in front of a very loud and intimidating Lobo fan base. 

Under Richard Pitino’s leadership, the Lobos boast a 3-1 home record against ranked foes (victories against Wyoming in 2021-22 and San Diego State and Utah State this season),

So the Lobos are striving to notch three victories against ranked opponents at The Pit in a single season for the first time in history.

The game coincides with UNM’s celebration of Black History Month, featuring a pregame rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and a halftime step performance.

Lobo freshman JT Toppin, earning his eighth Mountain West Freshman of the Week award, remains the conference’s sole player averaging a double-double in league play (12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds).

Toppin has looked, without a doubt, one of the most impressive freshman players to wear the Cherry & Silver for the Lobo basketball program. 

On the opposing side, Colorado State, also 20-6 overall and 8-5 in the Mountain West, arrives after a convincing 20-point victory over conference-leading Utah State. 

Isaiah Stevens, the preseason conference player of the year, leads the Rams with 16.2 points per game and a Mountain West-best 7.4 assists per game.

Historically, Colorado State holds the advantage in recent meetings, winning seven of the last nine encounters, including a 76-68 victory on January 2 in Fort Collins. 

However, New Mexico boasts an impressive 46-6 record against the Rams at The Pit, the most victories against any opponent in the arena.

The Lobos will wrap up their two-game homestand on Saturday against Air Force, with tipoff at 2 p.m. and coverage again on CBS Sports Network. 

CSU is led by Niko Medved, who is in his sixth season as head coach of the Rams. He’s 112-70 at CSU and 191-158 overall.

 Richard Pitino is in his third year leading New Mexico with a 55-37 record. He’s 214-174 in his career.

To see where this UNM Lobo program is from when he has taken the leadership role for this program is impressive, to say the least. 

The Lobos have shown significant improvement in each of his first two seasons in Albuquerque.

In 2022-23, UNM had its first 20-win season and postseason appearance in nine years, so many positives are looking at the big picture for this program. 

The Lobos have been spreading their wings this season, boasting a solid 17-8-0 record against the spread, outshining Colorado State’s 14-11-0 ATS performance. 

New Mexico has consistently lit up the scoreboard, surpassing the point total in 14 games. At the same time, the Rams have done so in 10 matchups.

The Lobos have shown dominance in their last ten games, holding a 7-3 ATS record alongside an impressive 7-3 overall standing.

However, Colorado State isn’t one to be overlooked, as they’ve managed a 5-5 ATS and a matching 7-3 overall record in their recent ten outings.

Colorado State enters the matchup riding high on its return to the AP Top 25, reclaiming the No. 22 spot this week.

Meanwhile, New Mexico finds itself outside the rankings for the second consecutive week despite reaching as high as No. 19 earlier in the season.

Despite that, most forecasters believe this very talented Lobo team will go to the NCAA tournament this year for the first time in a few years. 

Six Mountain West teams could be in the big dance this year; the conference is that good. 

With both teams jockeying for position, this game promises to be a thrilling battle between two Mountain West powpowerhouses. 

The Rams come into the contest fresh off a dominant performance against Utah State, securing a convincing 75-55 victory.

Power forward Joel Scott led the charge with 17 points and eight rebounds, showcasing the Rams’ prowess in the paint.

Despite shooting struggles from beyond the arc, Colorado State dominated the scoring inside, with a commanding 48-26 advantage in the paint and a 45-32 edge in rebounding.

On the other hand, the Lobos are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to San Diego State, falling 81-70 in their previous matchup. 

“We did a great job of coming back and just had three empty possessions that cost us and allowed them to build the lead again.”

“San Diego State is a terrific team. If we don’t play good offense, we will let them get out on the break and get this building going.”

“We had some silly turnovers, and they will capitalize on that, especially in this building. We need to be more efficient offensively, with six assists and 19 turnovers.

We turned them over, battled on the boards, and did a lot of good things, but there is a reason they haven’t lost at home since us last year. They are a terrific team, especially at home.” – Richard Pitino.

Despite the defeat, key player Jaelen House delivered an impressive performance, contributing 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting.

Jaelen House scored 22 points to lead New Mexico, while JT Toppin and Mustapha Amzil recorded double-doubles.

Toppin had 18 points and ten rebounds for his ninth double-double, extending his UNM freshman record. 

Despite the defeat, Toppin showcased his prowess in the post, tallying 18 points and securing 10 rebounds against a formidable defensive frontcourt. 

The opponent, SDSU, is renowned for its defensive prowess, making Toppin’s performance all the more impressive and indicative of his competitive mindset.

Amzil had 10 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double as a Lobo. Donovan Dent added 11 points to round out four double-figure scorers for New Mexico.

As the two teams prepare to clash, all eyes will be on the players to watch:

For New Mexico:

  • JT Toppin leads the Lobos in rebounds with 8.8 per game while contributing 12.7 points.
  • Donovan Dent leads the team in assists with 5.6 per game, alongside 15.4 points per game.
  • Jaelen House is a defensive stalwart, leading his team in steals with 2.6 per game and averaging 15.9 points.

For Colorado State:

  • Isaiah Stevens: 
  • Nique Clifford leads the Rams in rebounds with 7.1 per game and contributes 13.0 points.
  • Joel Scott provides a balanced performance with 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

With both teams bringing their A-game, tonight’s matchup will be a thrilling battle between two evenly matched contenders.

So, grab your popcorn and prepare for a night of high-flying hoops in the Mountain West Conference showdown.

This is that time of the year when the wins and losses are amplified, especially with so many great Mountain West Conference teams. 

It’s a dog fight at this point, and the Lobos play tough, especially at home, so it’s up for their big dogs to step up on a nationally televised game. 


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New Mexico vs. San Diego State: Preview, Predictions, Odds

New Mexico vs. San Diego State: “Battle of the Big Dogs at Viejas Arena” Battle of the Big Dogs at Viejas Arena Follow @MWCwire Huge Mountain West game The San Diego State Aztecs (19-6, 8-4 MWC) will look to extend a 14-game home winning streak when …

New Mexico vs. San Diego State: “Battle of the Big Dogs at Viejas Arena”


Battle of the Big Dogs at Viejas Arena


Follow @MWCwire

Huge Mountain West game

The San Diego State Aztecs (19-6, 8-4 MWC) will look to extend a 14-game home winning streak when they take on the New Mexico Lobos (20-5, 8-4 MWC) on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl.

The highly anticipated clash at Viejas Arena promises to be a heavyweight match with significant implications in the Mountain West Conference rankings. 

San Diego State’s record against the spread this season is 10-13-0, and New Mexico’s is 17-7-0.

 The Aztecs have a 13-10-0 record going over the point total, while games involving the Lobos have a record of 14-10-0 when it comes to hitting the over. 

Over the past ten contests, San Diego State is 4-6 against the spread and 6-4 overall, while New Mexico has gone 7-3 against the spread and 7-3 overall.

 Game time at Viejas Arena is 8:00 p.m. MT (7:00 p.m. PT), and the game will air on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network. It should be a great college basketball game. 

The Lobos defeated the Aztecs on January 13 at the PIT 88-70, in the PIT, so the Aztecs are looking for a bit of payback in their arena with a very loud fan base.

  • Matchup: New Mexico Lobos (20-5) 8-4 vs. San Diego State Aztecs (19-6) 8-4 in conference
  • Date/Time: Friday, January 16 at 8:00 p.m. MST

The New Mexico men’s basketball team concludes a two-game road trip on Friday with a visit to San Diego State for a battle of teams tied for second place in the Mountain West. 

The stage is set for an epic showdown as the New Mexico men’s basketball team gears up for the final leg of their two-game road trip.

They are heading into San Diego State territory for a high-stakes battle between two titans tied for second place in the Mountain West standings. 

With the clock ticking towards tip-off at Viejas Arena, anticipation mounts for this clash of basketball heavyweights, slated for 8:00 p.m. MT (7:00 p.m. PT) and set to air on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network.

The Lobos, boasting a formidable 20-5 record this season and sitting at 8-4 in the Mountain West, are riding a wave of momentum after their heart-stopping victory over Nevada on Tuesday night in Reno, Nevada. 

 With four consecutive road wins under their belt, they are hungry for their first five-game conference road win streak since their glory days in 2013-14. 

The Lobos have yet to lose two games in a row this season, so the Nevada win helped keep that streak alive. 

In their recent triumph, Jamal Mashburn, Jr. emerged as the hero, sinking crucial shots to seal the deal for UNM. 

Mashburn had been taking a beating on Twitter from many of the local “armchair quarterbacks” for his poor performance against UNLV.

He responded with two huge three-point shots at Reno to help seal the deal for victory for the Lobos against Steve Alford‘s Nevada Wolf Pack in a massive win. 

The Lobos basketball team used two late three-pointers from Jamal Mashburn, Jr. to down Nevada 83-82 on Tuesday night at the Lawlor Events Center.

Mashburn led the Lobos with 17 points, highlighted by a game-tying three with 1:13 to play and the go-ahead three with 22.4 seconds left. Jaelen House added 13 points and four assists, while Mustapha Amzil had 12 points off the bench. 

Nelly Junior Joseph had his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while JT Toppin just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Donovan Dent had nine points to go with seven assists.

Meanwhile, the San Diego State Aztecs, standing at 19-6 overall and mirroring the Lobos’ 8-4 conference record, are no strangers to success. 

Fresh off a sensational comeback win against Colorado State, where they erased a daunting halftime deficit, the Aztecs are led by the dynamic Jaedon LeDee, the conference’s leading scorer with an impressive 20.3 points per game.

With history on the line, New Mexico seeks to replicate their earlier victory over SDSU this season, aiming for their first season sweep of the Aztecs since 2016-17. 

A Friday night win would solidify their dominance over their rivals and mark a rare achievement, making them the first team since Fresno State in 2018 and 2019 to conquer the formidable Viejas Arena in back-to-back years.

As the tension mounts and the stakes soar, basketball fans everywhere brace themselves for what promises to be an unforgettable clash between two powerhouse programs.

Both vied for supremacy in one of college basketball’s most fiercely contested conferences, the Mountain West Conference. 

 Only one team will emerge victorious in this battle for bragging rights and conference positioning, etching their name into the annals of Mountain West basketball lore.

Under the leadership of Richard Pitino, son of the legendary Rick Pitino, the New Mexico Lobos have undergone a remarkable transformation. 

In just three seasons, Pitino has propelled the Lobos to back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time since 2014, signaling a resurgence in the program’s fortunes.

Offensively dynamic, the Lobos rank among the elite in the Mountain West and across Division I basketball, averaging an impressive 84.1 points per game, placing them 16th nationally. 

Under Richard Pitino’s leadership, the Lobos have emerged as one of the most formidable offensive forces in the Mountain West and Division I basketball. 

With an impressive average of 84.1 points per game (PPG), they currently rank 16th nationally. 

When the team adopts an up-tempo style and their shots find the mark, success inevitably follows, reflected in their performance in the win/loss column.

Despite the formidable challenge posed by San Diego State on their home turf, the Lobos remain undaunted, buoyed by their dominant home-court advantage at “The Pit,” where they boast an impressive 11-2 record this season. 

With three crucial home games remaining, the Lobos understand the importance of capitalizing on every opportunity to secure victory and propel themselves to the top of the conference standings.

However, they are also mindful of the challenges awaiting them on the road, with matchups against formidable opponents such as SDSU, USU, and the Boise State Broncos. 

With the conference title within their grasp, the Lobos are fully focused on the task at hand, prepared to leave it all on the court in pursuit of their championship aspirations.

To this point, the Lobos have generated 84.1 PPG, which lands them 16th in the nation. 

UNM also has three games left on the road, and considering those opponents (SDSU, USU, and the Boise State Broncos), it’s the most challenging part of their schedule this season. 

The San Diego State Aztecs, currently listed at +210, have been a dominant force in the Mountain West, epitomizing excellence both on and off the court. 

As last year’s national runner-up, they clinched the most recent regular season title in the conference, showcasing their prowess as one of the premier programs in the West. 

With an impressive track record, the Aztecs have triumphed in this market nine times, including three of the last four seasons, a feat unmatched by any other MWC school.

Under the guidance of head coach Brian Dutcher, now in his seventh year at the helm, San Diego State has consistently excelled, notching over 20 wins in every season. 

They stand tied for second in the conference with an 8-4 record in MWC play and an overall record of 19-6, firmly positioned to make a run at the top spot.

In 2024, the Aztecs have relied on their trademark stingy defense to power their campaign, holding opposing teams to just 66.8 points per game. 

With a roster boasting 11 players taller than 6-foot-4, including standout forward Jaedon LeDee, who averages an impressive 20.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, the Aztecs pose a formidable challenge to any opponent.

With two pivotal matchups on the horizon, including a crucial clash against UNM this Friday and a showdown against Utah State, the Aztecs have their sights set on seizing control of the conference regular season race. 

These upcoming games carry immense significance and could ultimately determine the conference champion, making them must-watch events for fans eagerly anticipating the outcome.

So fans can expect a great Friday game between two outstanding programs that have their strengths and weaknesses like any team. 

They are also very well-coached with some exciting players who can flat-out play the game of basketball, and depending on who shows up, the outcome and the victory will be determined. 

You never know what you will get in the Mountain West Conference from night to night, and there is a good possibility that six teams could go to the NCAA Tournament this year. 

Only time will tell us that, but for now, this writer will enjoy every second or every game; it’s been that good of a fan experience this year in this powerful conference. 

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New Mexico Steals 83-82Road Win From Nevada, Thanks to Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Game Recap: New Mexico 83, Nevada 82 New Mexico sweeps Nevada for the first time since the Craig Neal era. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico secures the sweep of Nevada with down to the wire road win in Reno. Reno, NV-The name of …

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 Game Recap: New Mexico 83, Nevada 82


New Mexico sweeps Nevada for the first time since the Craig Neal era.


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico secures the sweep of Nevada with down to the wire road win in Reno.

Reno, NV–The name of the game this Mountain West season is, win. By any means necessary, on any court possible & any given night. Yes, that’s certainly plenty of any’s for just one article. But that is the only way to survive in this conference this season. As teams are prepared to win at home and on the road on any given night.

Given all of the history between New Mexico & Nevada over the years, fan bases tend to show out when the other Wolf related team comes to town. The last time these two teams met was not too long ago on January 28th, when the Lobos beat Steve Alford’s Wolf Pack 89-55 in front of a packed Pit in Albuquerque.

It was a tale of two shooting performances that night, as the Lobos could not miss. Logging 50% & above shooting numbers from the field, behind the arc & from the charity stripe. While Nevada struggled from all areas of the court.

That game could be notated as the tail end of the Lobos dominant run in the Mountain West. It was also the first win for New Mexico over Nevada in nine previous meetings to go along with being the program’s first win over their former Head Coach, the proverbial cherry on top of the silver sundae.

This far into February though, both teams find themselves fighting for their own post season hopes. Even the Wolf Pack who are coming off of two impressive quad one wins over Top-25 ranked Colorado State & San Diego State just last week.

For both benches, the stakes were high inside the Lawlor Events Center Tuesday night, with eyeballs around the nation staying up late to see Nevada defend their home against New Mexico in the “Biggest Little City on Earth”.

The Lobos started as quick as they began the last time these two met. Taking a 5-2 lead with a Jaelen House three pointer. Both squads would miss a few shots until a Nick Davidson layup gave Nevada their first lead of the game. Back-to-back 4-0 runs on both sides kept things leveled at 11 a piece before a media timeout.

That media driven timeout cooled things down. As both sides received scoring from four different players in those first five minutes of action. Someone didn’t notify Jaelen House, as a quick steal & layup out of the break caused another timeout just seconds later. This time by the Nevada coaching staff.

After another Davidson layup in the paint, Jemarl Baker Jr. knocked down a much needed three pointer. That along with a defensive stop on the other end gave way for a Donovan Dent layup. The Lobos would go on to outscore their hosts 9-5 after that. With yet another Baker Jr. three pointer giving New Mexico a little cushion in their biggest lead of the game.

That lead only continued to grow, with a Mashburn Jr. three pointer increasing it to double digits (32-22) with 6:36 left in the first half.

Nevada wouldn’t stay down for long, not in their own house. Scoring seven points, including a Tre Coleman three pointer which shrunk the lead back down to single digits. But the Lobos answered back, with their long running backcourt duo of House & Mashburn Jr. chipping in four more points to get their lead back to a favorable place.

Each team gave it all they had until the half-time buzzer, as Jarod Lucas scored four straight points to keep his Wolf Pack within striking distance. It was enough to keep his team in the game. But a Mustapha Amzil three pointer was the last bucket before the half, to give New Mexico the 45-35 lead heading into halftime.

Things were pretty leveled on each side. With similar shooting totals, & longtime friends Jaelen House leading his team with 11 points & Jarod Lucas with 8 of his own. Something unexpected was New Mexico’s shooting performance at half-time, knocking down 5-8 three pointers to help give them the 10 point lead.

Nevada started scoring quickly, with a Coleman pull up jumper opening up scoring in the first possession of the second-half. One of three field goals made in the first minute of play.

The Wolf Pack wouldn’t stop there, going on a 7-0 run after having sent Lobo JT Toppin to the free throw line to make the three point play. That 7-0 run shrank the New Mexico lead to just four (48-44), their smallest deficit since the ten minute marker in the first half.

The Wolf Pack’s hot shooting on their home floor to open the half continued. With a Kenan Blackshear pull up, followed by a Nick Davidson dunk down low bringing Nevada to within one point of the Lobo lead (49-48). Prompting a much needed Richard Pitino timeout.

After the break, the two squads stayed neck and neck. Until back-to-back layups by Toppin combined with another from fellow freshman Tru Washington helped the Lobos create some cushion in their lead. Going up 58-52 before Nevada called a timeout of their own. After several misses on each side, a pair of Washington steals would lead to a pair of Donovan Dent field goals.

With the lead back to double-digits (62-52), a media timeout couldn’t have come sooner for Coach Alford. His team responded well, making shots & making New Mexico earn theirs at the charity stripe (next 4 Lobo points, come from Mashburn Jr. FTs).

But in the face of continuous comeback attempts from their hosts, New Mexico stayed composed. With Amzil’s second three pointer of the night helping widen their lead, only for a Jarod Lucas three on the other end to help close it yet again.

As both teams approached the five minute mark, a pair of Daniel Foster free throws brought the Wolf Pack back to within four. New Mexico would fail to capitalize on their next two possessions. Ultimately sending Kenan Blackshear to the line to tie things up at 71-71 with 4:43 left in the game. Nevada would take their first lead of the second-half shortly after, with Toppin sending Davidson to the line for two easy free throws.

A much needed Amzil three pointer gave New Mexico back their lead (74-73). Which was a part of a clutch performance off of the bench from the Finnish big man (12 points in 21 minutes), who went 3-6 from deep against Nevada.

There would be two more ties after that, at 75 & 77 a piece before a defensive blunder would nearly turn the tides.

A Jaelen House foul on Jarod Lucas beyond the arc sent the sharpshooter to the line for three easy ones. Giving Nevada the 80-77 lead with under two minutes to play. House would go on to miss a three pointer on the other end, but New Mexico would retain the ball.

In comes the Mountain West magic & after being subbed out only seconds prior, in comes Jamal Mashburn Junior. Draining a three pointer that would silence the crowd inside the Lawlor Events Center while tying the game at 80-80. Get ready for the tweets.

If that wasn’t enough to keep Mountain West spectators on the edge of their seat, Nevada would take the lead after another Davidson layup with just thirty seconds to go. No one called a timeout, as offensive maestro Donovan Dent was entrusted to put the ball on the hardwood & drove to the basket only to find one of his team’s best scorers ready for the ball.

A slight lapse in defensive coverage by the Wolf Pack left Mashburn Jr. briefly open in the upper corner. As the clutch shooting guard came under pressure, he fired.

With Mashburn Jr.’s clutch three pointer, he was subbed right back out for the larger Baker Junior. Tasked with preventing a shot that Lobo fans were all too familiar with, a Kenan Blackshear final possession game winner.

With that miss New Mexico earned the 83-82 road win, another quad 1 win & their first sweep over Nevada since the 2015-2016 season.

It was truly a night for scoring in Reno. With New Mexico receiving double-digit scoring from five different players, including Nelly Junior-Joseph’s fifth double-double of the season (11 points, 13 rebounds). While Nevada had four players in double figures, led by 19 point performances from Nick Davidson & Jarod Lucas.

Player Spotlights

Nevada FNick Davidson

Stat line: 19 points & 7 rebounds & 2 blocks on 8-15 (53.3%) shooting from the floor, including 3-3 (100%) from deep in 35 minutes on the floor

To choose just one Wolf to highlight after tonight’s edge of your seat game was difficult. I could have easily pointed to Lucas’s offensive efficiency or Blackshear’s ability to get to the free throw line all night while also dishing out 7 assists. But, I don’t think Nevada even comes close to taking New Mexico down to the wire if it wasn’t for Davidson’s play in the post.

Shooting above 53.5% against one of the more talented & lengthy frontcourts in the conference isn’t easy. And Davidson managed to do so with consistency while also challenging for boards & making some clutch free throws when needed.

Playing at maybe Nevada’s shallowest position on the depth chart, the sophomore is vital to their success.

New Mexico G-Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Stat line: 17 points on 4-7 (57.1%) from the floor, including 3-3 (100%) from deep & 6-6 (100%) from the line in just 23 minutes on the floor

Mashburn Jr. definitely deserves his flowers for Tuesday night’s performance in Reno. He was quiet but efficient for most of the game, only logging 23 total minutes on the floor.

As Coach Pitino continuously subbed him in & out, in favor of size to try in order to find their defensive edge. That didn’t shake the mental toughness of this senior guard.

He returned to the floor time & time again to contribute in a highly efficient way. Ending the night shooting 100% from both the free throw line & from deep range. That deep range performance was vital to New Mexico’s win. As they’ve struggled with effective three point shooting all season.

If you would have asked me Tuesday morning if the Lobos would win tonight’s game off of back-to-back three pointers, I would have offered you a coffee to sober up. But big players show up in big moments, and no Lobo stands taller tonight than Jamal Mashburn Junior.

Three Takeaways:

  • After getting swept by UNLV last Saturday with that tough loss at home, New Mexico needed this win. Not only for their morale & momentum to finish out the season, but for their tournament resume. The sweep of Nevada this season is also significant, having not done so in nearly eight years. Not to mention beginning a two game winning streak against their former Head Coach. A second straight win this week in San Diego could be the momentum this team needs heading into a brutal second half of February.
  • Jamal Mashburn Jr. has been overshadowed this season. With the surge in production from sophomore Donovan Dent & the always crowd pleasing & energetic Jaelen House sharing the back court with him, minutes along with praise are sometimes scarce. His team high of 17 points to go along with those two clutch three pointers to win the game for his squad on the road are huge. His confidence & production along with others on this team like Amzil, Junior-Joseph, Washinton & Baker Jr. will be needed come tournament time & to finish strong the rest of the conference season.
  • Nevada played very well Tuesday night against New Mexico. Boasting a three game winning streak coming into this one, which includes back-to-back wins over Top-25 opponents in conference front runners Utah State & perennial powerhouse San Diego State just last week. Even after the loss, they made the correct adjustments throughout the game, which eventually led to them taking control in the closing minutes. The Wolf Pack appear primed & ready to compete for their spot in the Big Dance come March. I can’t wait to see this team thrive going forward, with a favorable stretch to overcome.

Next Up:

The Lobos only get three days off & stay on the road to hopefully finish their week 2-0. With a rare Friday night game against San Diego State on February 16th. New Mexico could secure two sweeps over two of their more problematic conference foes this year. It’s a tall task but remember, any team on any night.

The Lobos haven’t swept the Aztecs since 2017. Which happened to be Craig Neal’s last season in Albuquerque & it was still called Wise Pies Arena back then. That game tips off at 8:00 PM MT and can be seen on FS1.

While the Wolf Pack stay in Reno to host their southern in-state rivals, UNLV. The first game in the hardwood edition of the Battle for Nevada takes place on Saturday February 17th.

This rivalry may have seen some better days with UNLV’s inconsistency & NCAA Tournament drought over their last decade or so. Both programs are attempting to fight their way out of their mid-table positions.

But have proven their lethality to other team’s tournament hopes this season. That matchup tips off at 8:30 PM PT and can be seen on FS1.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch

New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch Lobos take to the road this week Follow @MWCwire Wolf Pack will try to defend the home court. Game: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos When: Tuesday , February 13, 2024 Where: Lawlor Events Center …

New Mexico vs. Nevada: Preview, Odds, How To Watch


Lobos take to the road this week


Follow @MWCwire

Wolf Pack will try to defend the home court.

Game: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos

When: Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Where: Lawlor Events Center Reno, NV

TV: CBS Sports Network

Live Stream: FuboTV (Try for free.)

On Tuesday, the No. 25 New Mexico Lobos (19-5, 7-4 MWC) will face off against the Nevada Wolf Pack (19-5, 6-4 MWC) at Lawlor Events Center on February 13 at 11:00 p.m. ET.

According to our computer prediction, this matchup is anticipated to end with a 76-73 victory for New Mexico, which our model slightly favors.

The New Mexico men’s basketball team kicks off a two-game road stretch on Tuesday with a matchup against Nevada and Friday against SDSU. 

The game will tip off at 9:00 p.m. MT (8:00 p.m. PT) in Reno and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network.

Currently boasting a record of 19-5 this season, with a conference standing of 7-4 in the Mountain West, the Lobos sit at No. 22 in the NET rankings.

Their recent road performances have been impressive, securing victories in their last three away games, all with double-digit leads. 

They aim to extend this streak to four consecutive conference road wins, a feat not achieved since the 2013-14 season when they had a five-game streak.

 In their latest road game against Wyoming last Tuesday, JT Toppin’s outstanding performance marked his eighth double-double of the season, setting a freshman record at UNM.

Saturday’s match highlighted the Lobos’ most formidable challenge this season: losing the battle in points scored in the paint. 

Saturday was by far the worst game of the season the Lobos have had in terms of losing the points in the paint battle; 48-26 screams this point. 

“I think we were better in the second half (at the rim), but they were getting to the rim — they’re strong at the rim. They’re tough at the rim,” said UNM coach Richard Pitino.

 “We need to do a much better job of making those (shots near the rim). They were there. 

“They were shooting like 70% at the rim, so we’ve got to be way more disruptive and not allow the ball to get there (to the big men so close to the basket), but also give them credit. They were really good.”

Against Boise State, it was pretty much the same, with the Lobos being outrebounded 46-38, so this must be fixed to allow them a chance to get road wins, especially.  

Therefore, expect the Wolf Pack to prioritize packing the paint again, meaning the Lobos’ big men must display great physicality to remain competitive.

The Rebels were clearly the more athletic team and had the length to impose their defensive will on the Lobos, hence sweeping the Lobos this year. 

They packed the paint defensively, and other teams are noticing, so the Lobos must put their “mean socks” for them to have a chance to pick up some road wins.  

The Lobo guards have faced challenges with their shots being blocked and have struggled against the length of opposing teams.

 This was anticipated, especially given the decision to start three shorter guards in Jaelen House (6-foot-0), Donovan Dent (6-2), and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (6-2).

“Yeah, me and Mash gotta do a better job boxing out the ‘2’ and the ‘3’ down there,” Dent said. “They had how many offensive rebounds? Twelve offensive rebounds, mostly from Boone and Rodriguez. We gotta do better there.”

You can bet Steve Alfords Wolf Pack will emphasize that they must outrebound Richard Pitinos Lobos, putting them in the driver’s seat. 

UNM might consider putting three bigs on the court at the same time as Nelly, Topping and Amzil when the other teams are packing the paint. 

Or even a 2-3 zone when opposing teams show their hand early, at least change it up so they are not so predictable on defense. 

This is especially true when one of your guards is showing off that night; at least you cannot get outrebounded. 

Dent acknowledged the size advantage of UNLV wings Luis Rodriguez (6-6) and Keylan Boone (6-8) over himself and Mashburn.

 This led to the Rebels securing six offensive rebounds (three each for Rodriguez and Boone) out of UNLV’s total of 12. 

Many of these offensive rebounds translated into easy buckets near the rim and in the paint for the Rebels.

Both games against the UNLV Rebels and the Jan 31st game against the Broncos outscored the Lobo big men, making it very challenging to get the Lobos to attack the rim themselves. 

Nelly Junior Joseph and freshman JT Topping must step up against the Wolf Pack for the Lobos to win by rebounding and scoring on the road. 

Opposing Coaches watch the film of the losses of their next opponent and try to duplicate the same strategy. Of course, they must have the personnel to do so. 

This is something that Coach Pitino’s staff have to figure out , as you can get Steve Alford for Nevada, who will be looking to duplicate this same effort. 

Additionally, there have been shortcomings in feeding the ball to big men JT Toppin and Nelly Junior Joseph in favorable scoring positions, with much of their interior offense coming from second-chance points off missed shots.

When the Bigs have the ball in the low post-block area, he is a force for UNM, but there is no doubt they must get more production, both rebounds and scoring, from him. 

So opposing teams recognize this, knowing that the Lobos will not feed the post players very much, so they can emphasize defense on the smaller guards. 

This offense must have more balance, and one feeds the other with an inside-out game because the other team can concentrate on one aspect only. 

Now, that’s expected for a team with so much guard play, but the guard must recognize when they are having an off night and feed the bigs. 

However, they have faced difficulties, including having shots blocked and struggling against the length of opposing teams. 

This challenge was anticipated, especially with a lineup featuring three shorter guards 6-foot-0 Jaelen House, 6-2 Donovan Dent, and 6-2 Jamal Mashburn Jr.

Dent highlighted the size disadvantage faced against UNLV’s wings, Luis Rodriguez (6-6) and Keylan Boone (6-8), which led to the Rebels securing offensive rebounds and easy baskets inside the paint.

The Lobos must return to “We Ball and not Me ball” and distribute the ball on assist instead of simply taking a jump shot with 10-12 seconds still on the shot clock. 

Their opponent, Nevada, holds a similar 19-5 overall record, with a conference standing of 6-4 in the Mountain West. 

Nevada comes off impressive victories against ranked opponents last week, triumphing over No. 22 Utah State on the road and defeating No. 24 San Diego State at home in overtime.

 Nick Davidson’s standout performances in these games earned him the Mountain West Player of the Week title and will be a big challenge for the lobos big man. 

New Mexico claimed victory in the first encounter between the teams this year, dominating with an 89-55 win on January 28 at The Pit, snapping Nevada’s nine-game winning streak in their head-to-head history.

 Jaelen House led UNM with 21 points, six assists, and six steals in that game. However, the Lobos have faced difficulties in Reno, losing six consecutive games since their last victory in the 2015-16 regular-season finale.

Despite playing poorly at times, the Lobos overcame a deficit and took the lead at halftime, ultimately losing the game by just three points. 

I expect this Lobo team to bounce back, understanding the significance of securing these two wins to prove their worth for this year’s NCAA tournament. 

With crunch time upon them, they must demonstrate their ability to secure crucial road victories, especially in obtaining a few significant Quad 1 wins.

 I firmly believe they will rise to the occasion; this team possesses abundant talent, good coaches, and a competitive will to win. 

As Steve Alford, in a podcast, told Geoff Grammer from the Albuquerque Journal, it’s not so much teams being inconsistent from game to game. Still, there are a lot of really good teams in the Mountain West Conference this year. 

Look at UNLV, who wins in the PIT but loses to Air Force, “It’s the teams that can probably show the maturity that can handle game to game, week to week are the ones that are going to surface to the top” 

“We have a lot of ball to play with four weeks and eight games; there’s a lot of ball to be played, so you have to be playing your best basketball now.” 

So the reality is as much as the Lobos have enjoyed the ride this year in the Mountain West Conference, it is time for them to show they belong at the upper tier in this conference.

 They must step up the game and play their best ball or risk being all flash and no fire; that is what champions are made of going strong when the going is tough. 

 The Lobos will conclude their road trip on Friday with a visit to San Diego State, with the game scheduled at 8:00 p.m. MT (7:00 p.m. PT) at Viejas Arena, airing on FS1.

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New Mexico vs. UNLV: Preview, Odds, Predictions, How To Watch

New Mexico vs. UNLV: Preview, Odds, Predictions, How To Watch Lobos looking to defend The Pit Follow @MWCwire Can Rebels get a road win? The New Mexico Lobos (19-4) are hosting the UNLV Rebels (12-9) at The Pit on Saturday for an important Mountain …

New Mexico vs. UNLV: Preview, Odds, Predictions, How To Watch


Lobos looking to defend The Pit


Follow @MWCwire

Can Rebels get a road win?

The New Mexico Lobos (19-4) are hosting the UNLV Rebels (12-9) at The Pit on Saturday for an important Mountain West Conference game in Albuquerque. 

The No. 25 New Mexico men’s basketball team is set to return home this Saturday for a highly anticipated matchup against UNLV, with The Pit boasting a sold-out crowd. 

Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m., and fans can catch the action live on CBS Sports Network and the local Lobo Radio Network in the Albuquerque metro area.

This Saturday’s game marks the third sellout of the season at The Pit and will also be a White Out event, encouraging the 15,841 fans to deck out in white attire.

 Additionally, it’s the annual Lobos Slam Cancer game, a special occasion dedicated to honoring and celebrating all New Mexico cancer survivors. 

The game will feature a special recognition segment welcoming cancer survivors from the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Sporting an impressive 19-4 record this season (7-3 in the Mountain West), New Mexico enters the game fresh off a commanding 91-73 victory over Wyoming on Tuesday night. 

Game: UNLV Rebels vs New Mexico Lobos

When: Saturday, February 10, 2024

Where: The PIT in Albuquerque, NM

TV: CBS Sports Network

Live Stream: CBSSports.com or fuboTV (Try for free for seven days)

The Lobos are poised for success with four players averaging over 13.0 points per game in conference play, including JT Toppin, who leads the Mountain West with a double-double average in conference games.

Undoubtedly, Richard Pitino’s Lobo squad stands out as one of the most gifted teams ever to don the Cherry & Silver jerseys. 

With over two decades of experience covering various teams, this writer can attest to their exceptional talent. 

Their current 25th ranking and impressive NCAA Net Ranking of 18 are not coincidental or by accident.  

When they execute their signature up-tempo style and relentless on-ball defense, they look like one of the best Mountain West Conference elite teams.

Meanwhile, UNLV arrives in Albuquerque with a 12-9 overall record and a solid 5-4 standing in the Mountain West, riding a three-game winning streak.

 The Runnin’ Rebels, led by the Boone brothers, Kalib and Keylan, have showcased their prowess, with Kalib averaging a team-best 12.4 points per game and Keylan adding 12.1 points per game.

Having secured victories in eight of the last nine meetings, including an 83-73 win earlier this season at the Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV looks to maintain its dominance. 

The Runnin’ Rebels have a 15-15 all-time record at The Pit, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying showdown.

“UNLV and No. 25 New Mexico both enter Saturday night’s game at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., after decisive victories against Wyoming.

“The Rebels (12-9, 5-4 Mountain West) extended their winning streak to three games with a 62-48 win over the visiting Cowboys last Saturday.

“The Lobos (19-4, 7-3) bounced back from losing their first home game of the season, on Jan. 31 to Boise State, by defeating Wyoming 91-73 in Laramie, Wyo., on Tuesday night.

“New Mexico, which has won six of its past seven games, is 11-1 at home entering Saturday’s game with UNLV.

“The teams met in Las Vegas on Jan. 9 and UNLV emerged victorious 83-73 — the second-lowest scoring output by New Mexico in a Mountain West game this season.

‘ “We just didn’t have the pop we had in the first half,” New Mexico coach Richard Pitino said of the loss to UNLV, a game in which the Rebels outscored the Lobos 43-35 in the second half.

‘ “It starts with me and our coaching staff to get them ready. Give them credit, they played well, but I know we are better than that.”

“JT Toppin and Jaelen House each scored 16 points, while House also had six assists. Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 13 points, while Mustapha Amzil had 10 points off the bench. Tru Washington had nine points and tied a career-high with five steals.

“In the bounce-back victory over Wyoming on Tuesday, the Lobos again showed the many ways they are dangerous.

Donovan Dent led five Lobos in double figures with 19 points, to go with seven assists and a career-high six rebounds. 

Jaelen House had 17 points along with a career-high eight rebounds, while Jamal Mashburn scored 15 points is a great combo guard duo for the Lobos. 

Mustapha Amzil added 13 points has started to get in his three-point shooting groove, while Toppin had 11 points and 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.

‘ “It was a complete game,” Pitino said. “We did a good job of sustaining it, getting some stops when we needed to and converting on the other end. I thought our guys were so locked in and were mature.”

Throughout the season, New Mexico boasts the 14th-highest-scoring offense in the nation, averaging an impressive 84.4 points per game. 

The Lobos also excel in rebounding, securing an average of 39.2 boards per night, while distributing 15.5 assists per contest. 

Defensively, they maintain an above-average standing, ranking 120th in Division I by limiting opponents to 69.7 points per game. 

Leading the charge in scoring is Jamal Mashburn Jr., tied for second on the team with an average of 15.5 points per game. 

Supporting him are Donovan Dent, contributing 15.7 points and 5.9 assists per game, and JT Toppin, averaging 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds. 

At times Dent has looked as a player playing on another level, when the Lobos need the spark or that point just at the time the Lobos need it, he produces. 

Additionally, Nelly Junior Joseph and Jaelen House, who average 15.5 points and 3.9 assists, provide further depth and skill to the team.

“In UNLV’s win over New Mexico last month, twins Kalib and Keylan Boone combined for 46 points as Kalib scored a career-high 29 and Keylan added a season-high 17. Dedan Thomas Jr. contributed 14 points with seven assists for the Rebels.

“The Rebels went on to lose three of their next four games before putting together their current three-game winning streak.

“UNLV committed only four turnovers in the win over Wyoming last weekend. Keylan Boone and Thomas led the Rebels with 14 points apiece. Luis Rodriguez added 12.

So look for one heck of a classic college basketball game in the iconic PIT in Albuquerque as the Lobos look to avenge their loss to the Rebels in Sin City.

While UNLV secured a win against New Mexico in their previous encounter at home, they now face the daunting task of playing at The Pit, a notoriously challenging venue for visiting teams. 

New Mexico boasts an impressive 11-1 home record this season, with nine of those victories by double-digit margins. 

The Lobos have already demonstrated their dominance at home, defeating San Diego State and Utah State by significant margins of 18 and 13 points, respectively. 

Although UNLV managed to defeat Boise State on the road earlier in the season, facing New Mexico in this arena presents a unique challenge. 

Expect the Lobos to seek redemption for their earlier loss and secure their 20th victory of the season on their home court.

I anticipate that the Lobos will demonstrate their combined team talent in the high-altitude environment of The Pit in Albuquerque. 

Winning there is notoriously challenging for opposing teams, as the atmosphere becomes electrifyingly loud, and this team thrives on the energy of the crowd.

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