UNM’s losing streak stretched to four games with an 80-65 loss to Maryland in the consolation game of the Emerald Coast Tournament on Saturday. The Lobos trailed from the opening tip as the Terrapins opened up with an 8-0 run before Makuach Maluach nailed a three-point basket with 16:21 left in the first half to put UNM on the board. Maryland would respond with 18 unanswered points to extend the deficit to 24 points midway through the first half.
Despite outscoring the Terrapins for the final 32 minutes of the game, the deficit proved too big to overcome for Paul Weir’s young team.
“After those opening minutes, I thought we played a good game, but you’re not going to come back against a team like Maryland down 27-3,” Weir said via GoLobos.com after the game.
“So, unfortunately, the start to the game ended up being the game. I thought their defensive energy to start the game was tremendous and I thought that countered with our offensive lack of energy. We just couldn’t get a bucket and you have to tip your cap to them for coming out with a lot of pop defensively.”
Chris McNeal led the Lobos with 19 points on 6-14 shooting, while Sam Logwood added eight points and two assists. UNM shot 33.3% from the field and 31% from behind the arc as a team but managed to make all 14 free throw attempts.
Sophomore guard Anthony Cowan led the Terps with 21 points on 6-8 shooting, while forward Justin Jackson added 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Terrapins out-rebounded the Lobos by ten boards as the Lobos continue to struggle in rebound margin on the young season (tied for 281st with a -3.4 margin), and Maryland dominated in points from the free throw line with 24 points at the charity stripe compared to just 14 for the Lobos.
On a positive note for the 2-4 Lobos, UNM is tied with Brown as the 17th-best free throw shooting team in the nation at 79.6%.
UNM will look to get back on track on Wednesday at DreamStyle Arena vs. Evansville. The Purple Aces are 5-1 on the season, including an impressive 59-57 win over Fresno State in Cancun, Mexico last week.