Lobos Narrowly Outpaced in Fierce Showdown at The Pit: UNLV Edges Victory
The New Mexico Lobos, ranked 25th, faced off against the unranked Runnin' Rebels of UNLV in a conference game that ended with a nail-biting score of 80-77. The Lobos now stand with an overall record of 17-5, while the Runnin' Rebels updated their tally to 13-9. Despite a valiant effort on home turf at The Pit in Albuquerque, the Lobos fell just short in this closely contested battle.
The game was characterized by its intensity and frequent shifts in momentum, as evidenced by the eight lead changes and seven instances where the score was tied. The New Mexico Lobos showcased their defensive capabilities with nine blocks and six steals throughout the game. However, it was their offensive execution that left fans on edge; they shot only 35 percent from field goals compared to UNLV's more efficient 49 percent.
The Lobos were particularly aggressive on fast breaks, scoring an impressive 23 fast break points. Their tenacity also shone through under the basket where they grabbed a total of 41 rebounds – seventeen offensive and twenty-three defensive ones – outshining UNLV's thirty-nine rebounds.
Despite trailing at halftime with forty points to UNLV's thirty-nine, the Lobos managed to keep up an intense pace but ultimately scored thirty-seven points in the second half against UNLV's forty-one. Free throws were one area where New Mexico excelled; they converted seventy-seven percent of their attempts from the line thanks to twenty-three successful free throws made out of thirty attempted.
UNM’s three-point shooting stood out as well with eight made shots from beyond the arc for a solid forty percent completion rate. However, this sharpshooting wasn't enough to overcome their two-point struggles where they only hit fifteen out of forty-five attempts resulting in a mere thirty-three percent success rate inside.
On offense for New Mexico, assists played a crucial role as they recorded ten assists over ten turnovers which gave them an assist-to-turnover ratio of one – demonstrating careful ball handling despite intense pressure from opponents who managed only eight assists themselves.
Looking ahead after this heart-racing encounter at The Pit before an attendance surpassing its capacity at fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty-five spectators; fans can catch New Mexico Lobos next when they visit Lawlor Events Center to face Nevada Wolf Pack on February thirteen at eight o'clock PM Mountain Time (MT). This upcoming match will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network channel two hundred twenty-one for those eager supporters unable to make it to Reno.