The New Mexico Lobos are back on top of the Mountain West Conference. With a hard-fought 71-67 victory over Nevada on Tuesday night at the Lawlor Events Center, the Lobos secured at least a share of the 2025 Mountain West regular season championship, marking their first title since 2013. The win also cemented their position as the No. 1 seed heading into the conference tournament.
This victory, which improved New Mexico to 24-6 overall and 16-3 in the Mountain West, was the latest statement in a historic season for Richard Pitino’s squad. It also completed a season sweep of Nevada (16-14, 8-11 MW), showcasing the Lobos’ dominance against a formidable conference opponent.
Dent’s Heroics Lead the Way
The night belonged to Donovan Dent, who delivered a masterful performance, pouring in 33 points and dishing out seven assists. His offensive firepower kept the Lobos afloat in crucial moments, including a 20-point first half that set the tone for the battle. Nelly Junior Joseph also made his presence felt, grabbing 15 rebounds while contributing nine points—just shy of a double-double.
How the Game Unfolded
New Mexico wasted no time setting the tempo, opening the game with a 6-0 run and establishing a 12-4 lead within the first four minutes. However, Nevada responded with a 9-1 surge, knotting the game at 13-13 midway through the first half. The teams traded leads for the remainder of the period before New Mexico edged out a 41-38 advantage at halftime, fueled by Dent’s explosive scoring.
In the second half, the Lobos extended their lead briefly, but the Wolf Pack refused to go away, seizing a 50-47 advantage with just over 16 minutes remaining. What followed was a seesaw battle, with the teams exchanging leads multiple times. A clutch three-pointer from Tru Washington gave New Mexico a 64-59 cushion with under five minutes to play, and Mustapha Amzil’s triple extended the margin to 67-61 with three minutes left.
Nevada clawed back within a single point in the final 30 seconds, but the Lobos kept their composure at the free-throw line. CJ Noland’s pair of crucial free throws with 18.3 seconds left gave UNM breathing room, and a defensive stop in the final seconds sealed the victory.
Lobo Notes & Milestones
- The win secured New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West regular season title and 10th conference title overall, including five in the WAC era.
- The Lobos set a school record with 16 conference wins in a single season.
- UNM clinched the No. 1 seed for the 2025 Mountain West Tournament.
- New Mexico tied its program record for most conference road wins in a season (seven), a feat last achieved in 2013-14.
- Dent became just the 17th Lobo in history to surpass 600 points in a single season, recording his fourth 30-point game of the season.
- Joseph notched his seventh game with at least 15 rebounds, ranking second in program history over the past 50 years.
Pitino Praises Team’s Grit
“I told the guys we had an amazing opportunity tonight,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “That’s what we had earned, and we had to go do it on the road. To find a way to get it done in a tough environment, and to pick up a Quad 1 win in the process, this was a great win. We showed amazing toughness at the end, whether it was Mustapha’s three, Tru’s three, or our defense coming up with stops.”
Lobos Dominate Air Force, Tie Program Record for Conference Wins
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Before claiming the Mountain West title against Nevada, the New Mexico Lobos showcased their dominance with a commanding 92-71 victory over Air Force on Saturday afternoon at The Pit. The win, which marked their 15th conference victory of the season, tied the school record for most league wins in a single year, set by the 2013-14 team.
Balanced Attack Propels Lobos to Victory
Donovan Dent once again led the way, scoring 23 points and dishing out six assists. Nelly Junior Joseph recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Mustapha Amzil (15 points), Tru Washington (14 points), and CJ Noland (14 points) provided valuable contributions.
How the Game Was Won
New Mexico controlled the game from the outset, jumping out to a 15-5 lead within the first seven minutes. The Lobos extended their advantage to 23-7 before Air Force cut the margin to single digits. However, a dominant 11-2 run to close the half gave UNM a 47-32 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Lobos continue their aggressive play, extending their lead to 22 points within the first two minutes. Though Air Force briefly trimmed the deficit to 12, New Mexico quickly reasserted control, leading by as many as 25 points in the final minutes.
Lobo Notes & Achievements
- The Lobos’ 15 conference wins tied the program’s all-time record.
- UNM’s 23 regular season victories marked their highest total since the 2013-14 campaign.
- The team’s 12 steals against Air Force matched the program record for double-digit steal games in a season (12), tying three previous seasons.
- Joseph’s first-half double-double was the first by a Lobo before halftime since he accomplished the feat last season against Eastern New Mexico.
Pitino’s Take
“We hadn’t been home in a while and had just lost to two very good teams on the road,” Pitino said. “I’m proud of this team. Tying a school record for league wins is a huge accomplishment. We turned Air Force over 20 times, which was critical. That allowed us to get out on the break and play our style of basketball.”
With the conference title secured, the Lobos now set their sights on finishing the season strong and making a deep run in the Mountain West Tournament, with the ultimate goal of punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Up Next: Regular Season Finale at The Pit
The Lobos will look to cap off their impressive regular season with a home showdown against UNLV on Friday night at The Pit. The game, set to tip off at 8:00 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network, is already sold out. Fans are encouraged to wear red for a “Cherry Out” as the Lobos look to carry momentum into the Mountain West Tournament.