The University of New Mexico closed the holiday stretch with momentum across multiple programs, highlighted by dominant home performances from both men’s and women’s basketball, a road stumble followed by a statement rebound for the men, and a national spotlight moment for one of the program’s brightest distance-running stars.
From stifling defense at The Pit to historic consistency at home and a major road-racing debut on the horizon, the Lobos continued to assert themselves as one of the most well-rounded athletic departments in the Mountain West.
Women’s Basketball Closes 2025 Strong With Defensive Win Over Wyoming
New Mexico women’s basketball closed the calendar year in emphatic fashion, scoring the first 10 points and pulling away late to defeat Wyoming 62–48 on New Year’s Eve. The win pushed the Lobos to 10–4 overall and 2–1 in Mountain West play.
Defense again set the tone. UNM held the Cowgirls to single digits in both the first and fourth quarters—five points in the opening frame and seven in the final period—marking the seventh game this season the Lobos have limited an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter and the first time they accomplished it twice in the same game. It was also the fourth time this year UNM has held an opponent below 50 points.
Cacia Antonio continued her strong stretch, leading the Lobos for the second straight game with 14 points. Nayli Padilla and Laila Abdurraqib each added 11, with Padilla knocking down three three-pointers and Abdurraqib hitting two from deep. UNM controlled the paint (28–12), second-chance points (17–3), and bench production (18–9), while going a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.
On the glass, the Lobos dominated with a 42–28 rebounding advantage, fueled by 17 offensive boards. Emma Najjuma pulled down 15 rebounds, six on the offensive end, while Antonio added seven rebounds, five of them offensive. Defensively, UNM recorded 11 steals, led by Alyssa Hargrove’s four.
After weathering a second-quarter Wyoming run, the Lobos seized momentum late in the third and never let go, opening the fourth on a decisive 9–0 run before holding the Cowgirls scoreless over the final 4:17 to seal the win.
Balanced Attack Powers Women’s Hoops to Road Rout at San José State
New Mexico followed that performance with its most complete offensive outing of the season, cruising to an 89–51 win at San José State behind a balanced scoring effort that saw five Lobos reach double figures for the first time this year.
Cacia Antonio and Kaia Foster led the way with 15 points apiece. Foster delivered all 15 in a blistering 5:29 stretch during the fourth quarter, going a perfect 3-for-3 from three and 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Destinee Hooks and Alyssa Hargrove added 11 points each, while Abdurraqib chipped in 10.
The Lobos overwhelmed the Spartans on the boards, posting a season-high 58 rebounds, including 25 offensive. Jessie Joaquim led the charge with a season-best 16 rebounds—nine offensive—tying the most by a Lobo this season. UNM also forced 14 steals, marking the ninth game this year with double-digit takeaways.
New Mexico controlled the game from the opening tip, holding San José State to just four points in the first quarter and 12 at halftime—the fewest points UNM has allowed in a half this season. The Lobos closed the game by making 10 three-pointers in the second half and finished with a season-high 13 from deep as they improved to 11–4 overall and 3–1 in conference play.
Samuel Set for Half Marathon Debut Against Elite Field
Away from the hardwood, New Mexico distance star Habtom Samuel is set to take his next major step, making his half marathon debut Sunday at the Houston Half Marathon against elite international competition.
Samuel, a two-time NCAA champion and reigning national cross country champion, will test himself against a field that includes six of the 15 fastest Americans in history at the distance. The race marks his first competitive appearance on the roads after a decorated collegiate career that includes multiple national runner-up finishes at 10,000 meters and one of the fastest 10K times in collegiate history.
The race will be broadcast live Sunday morning, offering a national stage for one of UNM’s most accomplished athletes as he continues to expand his résumé beyond the track and cross country course.
Men’s Basketball Snaps Streak at Boise Before Reasserting Home Dominance
On the men’s side, New Mexico saw its seven-game win streak come to an end Tuesday night with a 62–53 loss at Boise State in its Mountain West road opener. The Lobos struggled offensively, shooting just 3-for-25 from three-point range in their lowest-scoring game since 2021–22.
Tomislav Buljan led UNM with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, while Deyton Albury added 12 points. Despite opening the second half on a 13–0 run to seize control, the Lobos couldn’t sustain momentum as Boise State closed the game on a decisive run to protect its home floor.
New Mexico quickly bounced back in emphatic fashion, returning to The Pit and overwhelming Wyoming 78–58 to claim its 20th consecutive home victory. Buljan delivered a career night, scoring 25 points on 11-for-13 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Uriah Tenette added 14 points off the bench, Luke Haupt scored 10, and Albury dished out seven assists.
After a tightly contested first half, the Lobos asserted control early in the second, forcing turnovers and stretching the lead with efficient offense and suffocating defense. The 20-game home winning streak is now the longest in nearly two decades and tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.
With two impressive performances over the holiday weeks, Buljan was recognized by the Mountain West. Posting consecutive double-doubles against Boise State and Wyoming, Buljan was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week. This is his third honor of the season and the third for the Lobos. Only JT Toppin has more awards, leading the Lobos with eight received in the 2023-24 season.