The New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball team is generating significant momentum as they continue their strong start to the season. With recent road victories against Colorado State and Fresno State, the Lobos have established themselves as contenders in the Mountain West Conference. Their next challenge will come on January 5 against Nevada at The Pit, a milestone matchup as it marks the 1,000th game to be played at the iconic arena.
In an impressive showcase of skill and teamwork, the New Mexico Lobos defeated Colorado State 76-68 on Saturday at Moby Arena, marking their first road win of the season. With this victory, the Lobos improved their record to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference (MW), while Colorado State fell to 7-6 and 1-1 in conference play.
The key to the Lobos’ success was a remarkable first-half run where they outscored the Rams 21-0, turning an early deficit into a commanding lead. Donovan Dent led New Mexico with 14 points and six assists, alongside Mustapha Amzil, who added another 14 points. Bench support came from CJ Noland with 11 points, Filip Borovicanin chipped in 10 points, and Nelly Junior Joseph narrowly missed a double-double with 9 points and 11 rebounds.
The game commenced with a slow tempo, remaining scoreless for the first three and a half minutes. The Lobos took an early lead with a 6-0 run. However, the Rams responded with a 9-0 streak, briefly taking an 11-9 advantage. As the half progressed, New Mexico regained the lead and extended it to 37-16, fueled by their impressive 21-0 run. The Lobos ended the first half with a 15-point lead at 41-26, thanks to Borovicanin’s 10 points.
In the second half, Colorado State made an attempt to rally with an 8-2 run, narrowing the margin to 43-33. The Lobos rebuffed their efforts by extending the lead back to 52-37, ultimately leading by as many as 18 points late in the game. Colorado State mounted a late push with a 9-0 run, but New Mexico secured the 76-68 victory.
Key Stats and Notes
- This victory marked the second time in three years that the Lobos have opened conference play 2-0.
- The win also snapped a six-game losing streak in Fort Collins for the Lobos, with their last triumph at Moby Arena dating back to the 2017-18 season.
- The 21-0 run was the longest of the Richard Pitino era, surpassing earlier season feats.
- New Mexico also showcased a solid defensive performance, recording 10 steals in the match.
Post-game, Coach Pitino acknowledged the team’s preparation and resilience. “Give our guys credit for coming back on Christmas and having three great days of preparation; they were ready to go. We knew we needed this win, especially against a Colorado State team coming off a victory at Nevada. We achieved great balance, but we need to improve our rebounding in the second half,” he stated.
Lobos Sweep Road Trip with Victory Over Fresno State
Following their triumph over Colorado State, the Lobos continued their winning streak with a 103-89 victory at Fresno State on Tuesday night. This victory not only marked their fourth consecutive win but also established a 3-0 record in Mountain West play for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Mustapha Amzil and CJ Noland led the scoring, both netting 23 points to help ensure the Lobos’ offensive display. Donovan Dent contributed 18 points, while Tru Washington scored 14 points, and Nelly Junior Joseph registered his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
New Mexico dominated the early portions of the game, launching a 12-0 run that saw them lead 14-3 within the first five minutes. By the midway point in the first half, the Lobos extended their advantage to 31-14, eventually heading into the break with 53-36.
In the second half, the Lobos managed to maintain their lead, which peaked at 94-75 late in the contest. Fresno State attempted to close the gap, but New Mexico successfully navigated the final minutes, closing out the game with a 14-point margin.
Significant Highlights
- This victory also ended a long-standing eight-game losing streak in Fresno, with the Lobos winning at the Save Mart Center for the first time since 2015-16.
- The Lobos’ scoring output of 103 points represents their highest in a conference game since 2018.
After the game, Pitino acknowledged the historical significance of the win in Fresno. “We haven’t won here in nine years, and this was great. It was a long trip, but we found a way to get it done. While I am pleased with the win, I am still frustrated by our performance in the final minutes,” he noted.
Looking Ahead: Milestone Game Against Nevada
As the Lobos return home, they prepare to host Nevada on Friday night at The Pit, celebrating the 1,000th game in the arena’s history. The game will begin at 9 p.m. and be broadcasted on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network.
The Lobos aspire to maintain their momentum against a Nevada team that is still seeking its first win in conference play after losses to Colorado State, Wyoming, and Utah State. New Mexico is poised to match its best-ever start to Mountain West play by achieving a 4-0 record.
The history books suggest a competitive affair, with Nevada leading the all-time series 14-9. However, New Mexico has bested the Wolf Pack in five of their last eight encounters at The Pit, including a sweep in the previous season.
Following their matchup with Nevada, the Lobos will travel to Wyoming on January 7 before returning home to face San Diego State on January 11. The upcoming games will be crucial as they aim to solidify their standing in the conference.
Women’s Basketball: Steady Start in Mountain West
Lobos Kick Off Conference Play with Road Victory
In a solid opening to conference play, the New Mexico women’s basketball team secured a 69-63 win against Air Force on Sunday. This victory was marked by a standout performance from Viané Cumber, who scored a game-high 20 points, complemented by Hulda Joaquim’s double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Destinee Hooks and Joana Magalhães also contributed significantly, adding 15 and 11 points, respectively. This win represents the Lobos’ sixth consecutive victory over Air Force, further establishing their dominance in the series.
New Mexico took control early, leading for over 34 minutes of play. Despite some pushback from Air Force, the Lobos never relinquished their lead after gaining it in the first quarter. Key defensive plays and fast-break points helped maintain their advantage throughout the game.
After the game, Coach Bradbury praised the team’s efforts and execution. “We were strong on both sides of the ball, particularly in the second half where we stayed composed and focused,” he stated.
Continuing Success Against Nevada
The Lobos followed up their conference opener with a strong performance against Nevada, winning 70-62 on New Year’s Day. This marked the team’s successful start to conference action at 2-0 for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
Hooks once again led the scoring with 18 points, while Cumber continued to impress, scoring 17 points and making program history with a record 40 consecutive free throws made. Moreland and Magalhães each added 10 points as the Lobos showcased their offensive depth.
New Mexico will look to build on this success as they prepare for a challenging atmosphere against San Diego State on January 6, where they aim to extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the Mountain West standings.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams have set a promising tone early in their respective seasons, with the Lobos eager to capitalize on their current successes. Upcoming games against Nevada and San Diego State will serve as critical tests as they strive to solidify themselves as formidable contenders in the Mountain West Conference. With emerging talents and a strong coaching strategy, the Lobos are poised for a memorable run this season.
UNM Lobos Swimming and Diving Team Heads to California for January Meet
The University of New Mexico (UNM) Lobos swimming and diving team is set to kick off its 2025 competition season with a double-dual meet against the San Diego State Aztecs and Pepperdine Waves. Scheduled for Thursday, January 2, the event will take place at the Aztec Aquaplex, starting at 3 p.m. Mountain Time (2 p.m. Pacific Time).
In this competition, the Lobos will field a squad comprising 21 participants, including 16 swimmers and five divers. Notably absent will be Arianna Stokes, who has achieved Top 10 marks and has been integral to the team’s “A” relay events. UNM will look to capitalize on the contributions of key athletes, including newcomer Ellie Broughton and seasoned competitors like Jordan Foster, Katy McCarter, Tahlia Micallef, and Linda Franco.
On the diving side, Alice English and Isabella Gomez are expected to lead the way. Gomez has already secured Zone qualifying cuts in all three disciplines, while English continues to demonstrate significant potential in her sophomore year.
As the Lobos prepare for their meet, they will face formidable competition. San Diego State enters the contest with an undefeated record of 5-0, while Pepperdine holds a season record of 1-3. It is important to note that this event will not be streamed for broader audiences.
The meet will follow a structured event order, beginning with the 200-yard medley relay and concluding with the 400-yard freestyle relay. The lane assignments will be as follows:
Pepperdine will utilize lanes 2 and 5,
San Diego State will occupy lanes 3 and 6,
New Mexico will be positioned in lanes 4 and 7.
UNM Men’s Tennis Team Begins Rob Bareford Era
In another area of UNM Athletics, the Lobo Men’s Tennis team is gearing up for a new chapter as Rob Bareford takes the helm as head coach. The season officially commences on January 31 at Southern Methodist University (SMU), part of an ambitious regular season lineup featuring 21 matches, culminating in the Mountain West Tournament scheduled for April 23-25 at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas.
Coach Bareford, who has previously led programs at Montana State and Radford, anticipates a challenging schedule this year, expressing his commitment to compete against some of the best teams in the country. The Lobos are set to face a total of seven teams that reached the postseason in previous years, including six squads that participated in the NCAA Tournament.
The season begins with a rigorous stretch of away matches in Texas, where the Lobos will compete against past NCAA Tournament participants SMU, UT Arlington, and Baylor. The combined record of these opponents was a commendable 47-31 last year. Following a brief hiatus, UNM will embark on another three-match road trip, facing teams from Oregon, Louisiana, and Portland, before heading to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to take on South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State, and Utah.
UNM will finally return to familiarize territory for its first home match on March 7, hosting Wichita State. The Lobos are also set to welcome Santa Clara, a team that achieved a 19-8 season and reached the semifinals of the UTR Sports National Invitation Tournament. Subsequent games include an encounter with rival NMSU, followed by three consecutive home matches before opening conference play against Nevada on March 27.
The latter part of the schedule features back-to-back matches against Air Force and Denver. Last season, Denver showcased impressive results with a 23-1 record, their closest match against UNM being a tightly contested 4-3 victory during the Lobos’ visit to McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium. As the season progresses, UNM will finish with matches against San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State, and defending Mountain West champions Boise State.
NMSU Athletic Department Undergoes Leadership Changes
In a significant development, New Mexico State University (NMSU) has announced the departure of athletic director Mario Moccia following findings from an investigative report that highlighted the institution’s shortcomings regarding its handling of a sexual abuse scandal that halted the Aggies’ men’s basketball program. The announcement was made by university president Valerio Ferme, who succeeded the previous president earlier this year.
In light of the report, which called for a fresh start in the athletics program, Amber Burdge has been appointed as the acting athletic director. Burdge, previously serving as the deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership, played a crucial role in the university’s response to hazing prevention efforts and has contributed effectively as the senior woman administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator.
The report, published by the New Mexico Department of Justice, documented a toxic culture within the athletics program, indicating that multiple opportunities to intervene were inadequately managed. It outlined specific criticisms towards Moccia, asserting that he had not acted sufficiently upon receiving reports of the assaults, mistakenly believing that notifying the Office of Institutional Equity fulfilled the university’s obligations.
Furthermore, the report raised concerns regarding the lack of transparency regarding the use of booster funds from the Aggie Athletic Club to compensate Moccia under his most recent contract. This contract extension, which occurred in 2023, included a raise of $72,000, bringing his annual salary to $351,000.
