It was another packed week for the New Mexico Lobos, highlighted by a strong showing at the Mountain West Tournament, a national championship performance on the track, and a mixed bag of results across baseball, softball, tennis, and golf.
From postseason intensity in Las Vegas to record-setting moments on the national stage, the Lobos continue to find themselves competing in meaningful moments across multiple sports.
Men’s Basketball: Lobos Reach Semifinals, Turn Attention to NIT
The New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball made another deep run in the Mountain West Tournament, opening with an emphatic 93–77 win over the San Jose State Spartans before falling just short in the semifinals.
In the quarterfinal victory, New Mexico delivered one of its most complete performances of the season. Tomislav Buljan dominated with 25 points and 14 rebounds on an efficient 10-of-11 shooting night, while freshman standout Jake Hall added 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers.
The Lobos showcased elite ball movement, dishing out 26 assists, tying a program record for a conference tournament game, while shooting 58.5% from the field, the best mark in program history at the event.
But in the semifinals, UNM ran into a familiar obstacle in the San Diego State Aztecs, falling 64–62 in a game that came down to the final possession.
Deyton Albury led the Lobos with 20 points, including a late layup that tied the game with 25 seconds remaining. However, San Diego State answered with a go-ahead basket with just 2.1 seconds left, and New Mexico’s final shot at the buzzer fell short.
Despite the loss, the Lobos (23-10) now shift their focus to postseason play in the National Invitation Tournament, where they will host the Sam Houston Bearkats at The Pit in the opening round. It marks UNM’s 21st NIT appearance and first since 2023.
Women’s Tennis Splits Opening Weekend in Conference Play
The New Mexico Lobos women’s tennis experienced both heartbreak and triumph in its opening weekend of Mountain West play.
UNM dropped its conference opener 4–1 to the UNLV Rebels, struggling in doubles for the first time in weeks despite a dominant singles win from Yu Yun Kathy Tsai, who cruised 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3.
But the Lobos responded in dramatic fashion against the Nevada Wolf Pack, pulling off a stunning 4–3 comeback victory after trailing 3-0.
The rally was fueled by clutch performances from Vianca Corley, Tsai, and Ana Veroux, but it was Marika Matsoukatidi who delivered the defining moment—surviving a marathon tiebreaker and multiple match points to clinch one of the most improbable wins of the season.
The Lobos now sit at 10-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play heading into another road weekend.
Men’s Tennis Rolls Past New Orleans
The New Mexico Lobos men’s tennis continued its momentum with a 4–0 shutout of the New Orleans Privateers.
After a dramatic doubles point victory—where Dario Ciobotaru and Philip Bosin saved four match points in a tiebreaker—the Lobos took control in singles.
Wins from Jakub Prachar, Alberto Perez, and Ciobotaru sealed the sweep as UNM improved to 5-9 on the season.
Track & Field: Habtom Samuel Makes History at NCAA Championships
The biggest moment of the week came on the national stage, where Habtom Samuel delivered a historic performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Samuel captured the men’s 5,000-meter national title, becoming the first athlete in program history to win NCAA championships in cross country, indoor, and outdoor competition.
His dominant closing kick secured the victory and cemented his place among the most accomplished distance runners in collegiate history.
The Lobos added several more All-America performances:
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Pamela Kosgei finished third in the 5K and later earned a runner-up finish in the 3K, continuing her decorated career
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Marion Jepngetich placed third in the 3K, giving UNM a podium double
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Matthew Endrody earned First Team All-America honors with a sixth-place finish in the mile
The women’s team finished tied for 10th nationally, while the men placed 19th, capping another elite showing for the program.
Baseball Opens Conference Play with Series Loss
The New Mexico Lobos baseball opened Mountain West play on the road against San Jose State, dropping the series two games to one.
Friday’s opener was a pitcher’s duel that extended into extra innings before UNM fell 1–0 on a walk-off double despite out-hitting the Spartans.
The Lobos bounced back Saturday with an 8–7 victory, snapping a six-game skid. A four-run ninth inning—highlighted by a leadoff home run from Lenny Ashby—proved decisive before Luke Wiseman induced a game-ending double play to secure the win.
However, UNM struggled to capitalize on opportunities in Sunday’s finale, falling 3–0 while stranding 11 runners and going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The Lobos now sit at 13-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play as they look to regain momentum.
Softball Swept by Grand Canyon Despite Offensive Flashes
The New Mexico Lobos softball opened Mountain West play with a tough home series against Grand Canyon, dropping all three games.
Despite the results, there were bright spots offensively:
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Miracle McKenzie continued her power surge, hitting her ninth home run and homering in three of four games
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DeNae Vasquez-Dickson was a consistent presence at the plate, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance in Game 1
UNM had multiple chances late in the series opener but left the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings, ultimately falling 7–2. The Lobos then dropped 4–1 and 8–0 decisions to complete the sweep.
Men’s Golf Finishes Sixth in Arizona
The New Mexico Lobos men’s golf posted a strong final round to finish sixth at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate.
UNM fired a 10-under round on the final day, one of the best rounds of the tournament, to climb the leaderboard.
Mesa Falleur led the Lobos with a T-12 finish at 5-under, while Wyatt Provence posted a team-best 6-under 66 in the final round.
The Week Ahead
With postseason basketball continuing and conference play heating up across spring sports, the Lobos enter another critical stretch.
Men’s basketball begins its NIT run at home, baseball looks to rebound in conference play, and tennis continues its Mountain West schedule—all while track and field builds off a national championship weekend.
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