Author’s note: Story has been updated post-game.
Lobos Punch Ticket to Indianapolis with Statement NIT Quarterfinal Win
The stage is getting bigger, and so are the moments for New Mexico.
In front of a charged home crowd at The Pit, the Lobos delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, pulling away in the second half for an 84-69 victory over Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday night. The win sends New Mexico to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament for the first time in more than three decades, marking a defining milestone for a program that continues to build momentum.
At 26-10, the Lobos are now two wins away from an NIT title. For Saint Joseph’s, a hard-fought postseason run comes to a close at 24-12.
A Star Turn on a Big Night
When the moment demanded a leader, Tomislav Buljan delivered his best performance of the season.
The freshman forward dominated on both ends, pouring in a career-high 27 points while securing 11 rebounds for his 17th double-double of the year. Buljan set the tone early, scoring 16 points in the first half alone to keep New Mexico within striking distance during a tightly contested opening period.
He wasn’t alone.
Jake Hall continued his record-breaking freshman campaign with 24 points, showing poise and scoring versatility in key stretches. Luke Haupt added 10 points and facilitated the offense with five assists, helping stabilize the Lobos during pivotal runs.
First Half: A Fight for Control
New Mexico came out with energy, using a quick 7-0 burst to establish an early advantage. The Lobos controlled much of the first half’s tempo, maintaining a narrow lead through the opening minutes and stretching it to six midway through the period.
But Saint Joseph’s responded like a seasoned postseason team.
The Hawks flipped the game late in the half, unleashing a 14-2 run that turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead with just over two minutes remaining. Suddenly, the Lobos were on their heels.
Instead of unraveling, New Mexico steadied itself.
A late push trimmed the deficit to just two points at halftime, 39-37, thanks largely to Buljan’s scoring surge. It was a critical response that kept momentum within reach heading into the break.
Second Half: Lobos Take Over
What followed was a defining stretch of basketball that changed the game—and perhaps the trajectory of the Lobos’ postseason.
New Mexico opened the second half with a decisive 10-0 run, reclaiming control and igniting the home crowd. That surge quickly grew into something larger. Defensive stops turned into transition opportunities, and the Lobos began to separate.
A 15-2 extended run pushed the lead to 66-51 with nine minutes remaining, capping a stretch where New Mexico overwhelmed Saint Joseph’s on both ends of the floor.
Even as the Hawks made one final push—cutting the deficit to eight with four minutes to play—the Lobos never wavered. Another quick response, a 5-0 burst, slammed the door shut and ensured Saint Joseph’s would not get back within single digits.
From there, New Mexico closed with authority, turning a competitive contest into a statement victory.
History and Momentum
This win carries significance beyond just advancing in the bracket.
The Lobos are heading to their third NIT semifinal appearance in program history and their first since 1990, a long-awaited return to relevance on a national postseason stage. Even more impressively, New Mexico has dominated its path to Indianapolis, becoming the first team since 2016 to reach the semifinals with three consecutive wins of 15 points or more.
At home, the Lobos were nearly untouchable. They finish the season at The Pit with a 17-3 record, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as one of college basketball’s most impactful environments.
Individually, the night added another chapter to Jake Hall’s historic freshman season. His 24-point effort pushed him to 585 points on the year, setting a new Mountain West record for freshman scoring and surpassing a mark that had stood for over a decade.
A Community Effort
After the game, head coach Eric Olen pointed to more than just execution on the court.
He highlighted the role of the fans, the university, and the broader Albuquerque community in making the moment possible—particularly the efforts to keep the team at home for this game rather than traveling across the country.
The result was a playoff atmosphere that fueled the Lobos when they needed it most, especially during their decisive second-half run.
On to Indianapolis
Now, the focus shifts to the national stage.
New Mexico will face Tulsa in the NIT semifinals on April 2 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. With confidence building and performances peaking at the right time, the Lobos carry both momentum and belief into the final stretch of their season.
One win got them here.
Two more could make it unforgettable.
Lobos Kickstart NIT Run With Win Over Sam Houston
New Mexico wasted no time making a statement, rolling past Sam Houston Bearkats 107-83 at The Pit. The 107 points marked the most ever scored by the program in regulation of a postseason game, setting the tone for what has quickly become a dominant tournament run.
Freshman standout Tomislav Buljan led the charge with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high six assists, securing his 16th double-double of the season. Uriah Tenette added a career-high 20 points, while Deyton Albury filled the stat sheet with 15 points and six steals. Jake Hall contributed 14 points and etched his name into program history by breaking the single-season three-point record, surpassing Anthony Mathis with 109 made threes.
The Lobos controlled the game early, jumping out to an 8-2 lead and steadily building a double-digit advantage. Though Sam Houston briefly cut the deficit to single digits late in the first half, New Mexico responded and carried a 51-39 lead into the break. The second half was all Lobos, highlighted by multiple scoring runs, including a decisive 10-0 stretch that pushed the margin to nearly 30 points.
Six Lobos finished in double figures, showcasing the depth that has made this team so dangerous. The performance also set multiple NIT program records, including field goals (39), three-pointers (13), and margin of victory (+24).
Dominance Continues Against George Washington
New Mexico followed up its opening-round explosion with another convincing win, defeating the George Washington Revolutionaries 86-61 to advance to the NIT quarterfinals for the first time since 2001.
This time, it was Hall leading the way with 19 points, knocking down four of six attempts from beyond the arc. Tenette continued his strong play with 15 points and six assists, while Buljan narrowly missed another double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Unlike the first-round game, this contest featured a tighter first half. The Lobos led 36-32 at halftime after George Washington closed the gap late. But any momentum quickly disappeared after the break. Hall sparked a 10-0 run with three consecutive three-pointers, igniting a surge that put the game out of reach.
New Mexico’s defense and execution took over from there. After the Revolutionaries cut the lead to 11 midway through the second half, the Lobos responded with a crushing 16-0 run to seal the game.
The win not only pushed the Lobos to 25 victories for the third straight season, but it also marked the first time in program history that New Mexico has won back-to-back postseason games by 20 or more points.
This NIT run has been defined by both team success and individual milestones. Hall now ranks among the top freshmen shooters in Division I history, climbing into the top five all-time for single-season three-pointers. Buljan continues to dominate the glass, setting the program’s single-season offensive rebound record, while Tenette has rewritten the freshman steals record and displayed elite playmaking efficiency.
Head coach Eric Olen emphasized the team’s maturity and focus following both wins, noting that the Lobos’ approach will be critical as the competition stiffens.
Program Shift: Women’s Basketball Moves On from Bradbury
While the men’s team is thriving, there is significant change on the women’s side. After a decade at the helm, head coach Mike Bradbury has parted ways with the program following a decision by new athletic director Ryan Berryman.
Bradbury leaves with an impressive 202-112 overall record and a Mountain West regular-season title in 2021. However, postseason struggles ultimately defined the latter part of his tenure, including a 3-10 record in the conference tournament and no NCAA Tournament appearances.
Despite a solid 22-10 finish this season, another early conference tournament exit led to the decision to move in a new direction. A national search for the next head coach is now underway.
Baseball: Missed Opportunities and Late-Inning Struggles
It was a rollercoaster week for New Mexico Lobos baseball, defined by strong starts that too often slipped away late.
Against Abilene Christian Wildcats, the Lobos showed their offensive capability early in the series. In Friday’s opener, New Mexico built a 4-0 lead across the first three innings, highlighted by Anthony Diaz’s inside-the-park home run and RBI doubles from Caleb Herd and Khalil Walker. On the mound, Cristian Mogen was sharp, striking out a career-high nine over 5.1 innings. But the game unraveled late. The bullpen allowed nine runs over the final three innings, including a decisive four-run seventh, turning a controlled game into a 12-5 loss.
Saturday followed a similar script. UNM again jumped ahead 5-0, powered by home runs from Brodey Williams and Walker and a dominant outing from Ryan Castillo, who struck out 10 over 5⅓ innings. Yet once again, the late innings proved costly. Abilene Christian stormed back with six combined runs in the sixth and seventh before pulling away in the 10th inning, capitalizing on walks, hit batters, and timely hits to secure an 11-7 win. The Lobos’ inability to convert—going just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and leaving 12 on base—proved just as damaging as the pitching struggles.
Sunday’s finale provided a much-needed response. Behind a five-run fourth inning, the Lobos avoided the sweep with an 11-5 victory. Diaz and Karsen Waslefsky each drove in four runs, while Waslefsky’s two-run homer highlighted the breakout inning. Diego Alvarez earned his first win of the season, and Cooper Corkrean delivered 3.2 innings of steady relief to close it out. The win was particularly important, snapping a six-game home losing streak and showing the team’s ability to finish when given the chance.
However, momentum didn’t carry into the midweek matchup against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. A six-run first inning by Texas Tech put the Lobos in an immediate hole they never escaped, eventually falling 12-2 in a run-rule shortened game. Despite flashes of stability from the bullpen midgame, the early deficit and a late surge by the Red Raiders sealed the outcome.
The theme is clear: New Mexico can score and compete early, but tightening up late-game pitching and situational hitting will be critical as Mountain West play continues.
Softball: Resilience on Display in Road Series
The week for New Mexico Lobos softball was defined by grit, even in defeat, during a tough road series against the Colorado State Rams.
In Game 1, the Lobos played one of their most complete games defensively and in the circle, only to fall 4-3 in a walk-off. Caitlin Benningfield was strong, tossing a complete game with seven strikeouts and allowing just one earned run. New Mexico built a 2-0 lead behind Miracle McKenzie’s 10th home run of the season, but a three-run sixth inning—fueled entirely by unearned runs—shifted momentum. The Lobos battled back to tie the game in the seventh, but Colorado State answered with a walk-off single after loading the bases.
Game 2 saw similar frustration. McKenna Guest delivered another complete-game effort, striking out five, but defensive miscues again proved costly. The Rams capitalized on a dropped popup early and then broke the game open with four runs in the sixth, handing UNM a 5-0 loss despite multiple early scoring chances left unconverted.
Sunday’s finale, however, showcased the team’s resilience. Trailing three separate times, the Lobos rallied for a thrilling 9-8 victory. The offense came alive with three home runs—Allie Williams tied the game with a solo shot, McKenzie blasted a three-run homer to pull UNM within one, and Jessica DeLeon added a crucial insurance run late. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, while the team totaled 13 hits.
The defining stretch came in the fifth and sixth innings, where the Lobos scored six unanswered runs to flip the game. Even as Colorado State threatened late, Benningfield returned to the circle to shut the door, securing the win and preventing a sweep.
Despite the series loss, the finale highlighted a team capable of explosive offense and clutch play—if they can pair it with cleaner defense, the results could quickly shift.
Tennis: Marathon Matches and Clutch Moments
It was a split weekend for New Mexico Lobos, but one that underscored both their competitiveness and mental toughness.
Against the Fresno State Bulldogs, the Lobos fell 4-1 in a match that was far closer than the scoreline suggests. New Mexico dropped the doubles point despite a win from the Corley twins, and several singles matches came down to tight sets and tiebreaks. Maria Matsoukatidi provided the lone point with a straight-sets victory, but Fresno State clinched the match by winning a crucial second-set tiebreak at No. 6 singles.
The response against the San Jose State Spartans was dramatic. In a nearly four-hour battle, the Lobos emerged with a 4-3 victory in one of their most thrilling matches of the season. After securing the doubles point convincingly—including a dominant 6-0 performance from the Corley sisters—New Mexico found itself locked in a back-and-forth singles battle.
With the match hanging in the balance at 3-2 in favor of San Jose State, Marika Matsoukatidi delivered under pressure, winning a 9-7 third-set tiebreak and saving a match point in the process. Moments later, Lea Malazdra sealed the victory with a 6-4 third-set win, sparking a celebration that reflected both the intensity and importance of the comeback.
The weekend highlighted a team that thrives in high-pressure situations, with multiple players stepping up in decisive moments—an encouraging sign with tougher, ranked opponents looming.
Women’s Golf: Battling Elite Competition
For New Mexico Lobos women’s golf, the past stretch has been about competing against some of the nation’s top programs.
At the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Hawaii, the Lobos finished 10th in a stacked field that included powerhouse programs like USC Trojans, who won the event at 28-under. New Mexico posted a 47-over total, with Ava Cepeda leading the team at 8-over for the tournament. Playing on her home island of Oahu, Cepeda delivered a steady performance, finishing tied for 27th.
The team then shifted to the PING/ASU Invitational in Phoenix, where consistency has been a challenge through the opening rounds. After day one, the Lobos sat tied for 10th at 10-over, highlighted by Juliette Hole’s even-par round that included a hole-in-one on the par-3 11th—one of the standout moments of the tournament.
Through two rounds, New Mexico slipped to tied for 12th at 21-over. Cepeda again led the way, shooting a 1-under 71 in round two to position herself as the team’s top individual performer. However, costly three-putts and uneven finishing stretches have prevented the Lobos from climbing the leaderboard in a field dominated by top-25 teams.
While results haven’t yet matched their potential, competing against elite programs provides valuable experience—and flashes like Hole’s ace and Cepeda’s under-par round show the upside is there.
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