New Mexico Basketball Adds Transfer Forward Deraje Agbaosi
The New Mexico men’s basketball program has recently welcomed a new addition to its team. Deraje Agbaosi, a transfer forward from North Alabama, has joined the program as a non-scholarship athlete. Agbaosi, hailing from Union, New Jersey, stands at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. He brings with him experience from playing the past two seasons for the North Alabama Lions.
During his time at North Alabama, Agbaosi played in 33 games as a bench player, contributing an average of 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in just under 10 minutes of play per contest. Agbaosi’s experience and skillset caught the attention of head coach Richard Pitino, who expressed excitement about Agbaosi’s addition to the team. Coach Pitino noted Agbaosi’s positive impact both on and off the court and highlighted his connection to the Albuquerque community, having played high school basketball there.
Agbaosi’s return to Albuquerque marks a homecoming of sorts, as he played high school basketball at Eldorado and earned second-team All-State honors during his senior season. He then pursued a postgraduate year at Phoenix Prep before enrolling at North Alabama.
Deraje Agbaosi’s addition to the Lobos marks the fifth transfer to join the team for the 2023-24 season, showcasing the program’s commitment to bolstering its ranks with talented players.
Alli Davis Earns Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
In women’s soccer news, New Mexico’s redshirt sophomore goalkeeper, Alli Davis, has secured the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award. This recognition marks the second defensive conference award in Davis’ career and the third overall conference honor for the accomplished goalkeeper.
Davis showcased her prowess in the opening matches of the season, making a remarkable 12 saves throughout the week. Her standout performance included a career-high eight saves against Texas Tech, preventing multiple point-blank shots and keeping the match scoreless. Davis also contributed to holding off Northern Arizona with four saves in a clean sheet performance. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, demonstrating her remarkable skill in guarding the goal.
The Bend, Oregon native’s exceptional defensive abilities have made her a vital asset to the Lobos’ soccer team, and her latest accolade serves as a testament to her dedication and hard work.
Lobos’ Women’s Soccer Battles to a Draw
The New Mexico women’s soccer team recently played a closely contested match against Northern Arizona, resulting in a 0-0 draw. Despite the lack of goals, the game showcased the Lobos’ determination and offensive efforts.
In the first half, NAU held a slight advantage with a 6-3 shot count, but the Lobos made a strong comeback in the second half, outshooting their opponents 16-3. Despite their efforts, UNM was unable to capitalize on several promising opportunities, including shots that hit the post and were saved by the opposing goalkeeper.
Alli Davis, the Lobos’ goalkeeper, contributed significantly to the match, recording a clean sheet with four saves. The game showcased the Lobos’ defensive strength and their persistent offensive drive, setting the stage for their upcoming match against Cal State Fullerton.
The Lobos’ next match is scheduled for Thursday, August 24, where they will host Cal State Fullerton at 7:30 p.m. local time. As the team continues to showcase their skills on the field, fans can anticipate another exciting contest on the horizon.
Three Lobos Named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
Tavian Combs, Trace Bruckler, and Ryan Davis were all named to the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List. The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, today released the Watch List of 100 college football student-athletes from 67 different schools currently under consideration.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Combs and Bruckler were starters in 2022 until injuries sidelined both of their seasons, both earning redshirts. Combs, who was a starter in both 2020 and 2021, ranks among the top 25 national active players in tackles per game. Combs is expected to start once again at the Lobo back spot, anchoring UNM’s defense.
Bruckler was injured early in the season and ended up taking a redshirt season. He was a breakout starter at tight end as a true freshman in 2021 and he is expected to play a big role in UNM’s new offense under offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent. Davis, who played for Vincent at UAB, didn’t play for UNM last year but is coming back from several injuries that limited his participation over the last few years. When healthy, Davis has been extremely productive in his career with 22 career receptions for 280 yards.