The New Mexico Lobos and the Colorado State Rams faced off in a pivotal Mountain West - Semifinal 2 matchup, with the Lobos emerging victorious with a final score of 74-61. The victory was significant for the New Mexico team, as they improved their season record to an impressive tally, while the Rams fell short, adding another loss to their record.

Jan 14, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; New Mexico Lobos guard Jaelen House (10) reacts after a basket against the San Diego State Aztecs during the second half at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The game held at Thomas & Mack Center saw an attendance of 13,213 fans who witnessed the Lobos dominate various aspects of play. The home team showcased a solid defense with a total of nine blocks compared to three from the Rams. Both teams were aggressive on defense as evidenced by six steals each.

Offensively, the Lobos were more efficient in converting their attempts into points. They shot at a 45 percent clip from the field on 62 attempts and were particularly effective inside the paint where they scored 42 points. Their two-point shooting percentage stood at an impressive 47 percent on 49 attempts. From beyond the arc, they managed to hit five out of thirteen attempts which translated to a commendable three-point shooting percentage of 38 percent.

Free throws also played a crucial role in this game; New Mexico capitalized on these opportunities by making thirteen out of sixteen free throws which rounded up to an excellent free throw percentage of approximately 81 percent. In contrast, despite having fewer chances at free throws (eight attempts), Colorado State managed to maintain high accuracy with seven made free throws resulting in an admirable percentage close to 88 percent.

The New Mexico squad demonstrated superior ball movement throughout the game as well; they dished out sixteen assists and maintained better control over possession with only nine turnovers against fourteen by Colorado State. This resulted in an outstanding assists turnover ratio for UNM at approximately 2.29 while CSU lagged behind with around half that value.

In terms of rebounding, both teams fought hard but it was Colorado State that edged out slightly overall grabbing forty-four rebounds against thirty-nine by UNM; however this did not significantly impact New Mexico's performance or outcome due largely because they maximized second-chance points scoring seven compared to fifteen by CSU.

Looking ahead for fans eagerly anticipating future matchups involving their beloved team: The next challenge for New Mexico will be against San Diego State Aztecs scheduled on March16th at Thomas & Mack Center located in Las Vegas NV USA (zip code:89119). This upcoming encounter is set for broadcast so supporters can tune into CBS TV network come tip-off time scheduled around late evening hours according local time zone conventions (9:00 PM PT).

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