The University of New Mexico delivered another busy and eventful week across multiple sports, highlighted by a dominant men’s basketball homestand, competitive road efforts against Mountain West leaders, a season-opening tennis sweep, continued development in women’s basketball, and strong performances in the pool and on the gridiron.
Men’s Basketball Extends Home Dominance, Battles League Leader on the Road
New Mexico men’s basketball continued to make The Pit one of the most difficult venues in the country, rolling past Grand Canyon 87–64 on Tuesday night to secure its fourth straight win and extend its home winning streak to 21 games. The Lobos broke the game open early in the second half, outscoring the Lopes 47–24 after the break.
Jake Hall led the charge with 22 points, pushing his UNM freshman record to six 20-point games this season. Uriah Tenette added 14 points, while JT Rock posted career highs with 13 points and four blocks. Deyton Albury and Luke Haupt chipped in 11 points apiece as five Lobos scored in double figures.
After Grand Canyon briefly tied the game early in the second half, a decisive run—punctuated by a pair of technical fouls and the ejection of GCU head coach Bryce Drew—gave New Mexico control for good. UNM shot 58.3% in the second half, marking its fourth straight game shooting better than 50% after halftime.
The Lobos carried that momentum into San Diego, where they nearly pulled off a comeback against Mountain West-leading San Diego State before falling 83–79 at Viejas Arena. New Mexico erased a 15-point second-half deficit and took a 79–77 lead with one minute remaining, but the Aztecs closed on a 6–0 run to remain unbeaten in conference play.
Tomislav Buljan recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Hall added 15 points and a career-high five assists. Antonio Chol scored 12 points on four three-pointers, remaining the only Mountain West player to hit a three in every game this season.
Despite the loss, the Lobos showed resilience, executing at a high level in the second half and pushing the league’s top team to the final seconds.
Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short in Road, Home Tests
New Mexico women’s basketball endured a challenging stretch against quality competition, beginning with a 73–56 loss at San Diego State. The Lobos erased an 11-point third-quarter deficit with a 13–2 run to tie the game at 47, but the Aztecs responded with a decisive fourth quarter, outscoring UNM 23–9.
Destinee Hooks led all scorers with 18 points, her 17th double-figure performance of the season, while Laila Abdurraqib added 13 points, marking her sixth game in double figures. UNM outrebounded SDSU 35–28 and forced its way back into contention before the Aztecs’ perimeter shooting sealed the outcome.
Back home, the Lobos were unable to complete another comeback in a 75–62 loss to Grand Canyon. Hooks again led UNM with 17 points, while Jessie Joaquim posted her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Lobos forced 23 turnovers and recorded 14 steals but struggled to sustain offensive momentum late, as GCU pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Men’s Tennis Opens Season with Doubleheader Sweep
The UNM men’s tennis team opened the 2026 season in strong fashion, sweeping a season-opening doubleheader with wins over Idaho (5–2) and Western New Mexico (6–1).
Alberto Perez led the way with four victories on the day, while the Lobos clinched both matches early at 4–0. Against Idaho, UNM took the doubles point and secured the match behind straight-set singles wins from Jakub Prachar, Tyler Waddock, and Perez.
The afternoon match against Western New Mexico featured a special moment for Albuquerque native Connor Dils, who clinched the doubles point in his first career dual match and later earned his first singles victory. Fellow Albuquerque product Philip Bosin clinched the match at No. 3 singles, as UNM rolled to the sweep and turned its focus to the upcoming ITA Kickoff Weekend at UCLA.
Swimming & Diving Shows Progress at Mardi Gras Invitational
The Lobos showed continued development in the pool at the Mardi Gras Invitational, highlighted by Esme Abbadi-MacIntosh’s victory in the 3-meter dive. UNM swept the top points in the event, with Alice English and Reed Moyer finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
On the final day, Sophia Corder claimed two event wins—taking the 100-yard fly against Tulane and the 50-yard fly against North Texas—while Arianna Stokes captured the 50-yard freestyle. UNM also recorded multiple personal-best performances throughout the meet, underscoring steady progress as the season continues.
James-Newby Earns Shrine Bowl Invitation
On the football front, New Mexico defensive standout Keyshawn James-Newby accepted an invitation to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, further validating the program’s player development under head coach Jason Eck.
James-Newby is the only Mountain West player selected among the 117 invitees and enters the game as a Third Team All-American and First Team All-Mountain West selection. He led the conference in sacks and ranks among the national leaders in pressures, hurries, and pass-rush grade, adding another chapter to UNM’s growing presence on the national football stage.