Lobos Extend Home Win Streak too 23, Defeat Nevada 80-73
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New Mexico continued its dominance at home, securing an 80-73 victory over Nevada on Saturday in Albuquerque. The win extends the Lobos’ home winning streak to an notable 23 games and solidifies their position in the Mountain West Conference.
After a tightly contested first half, the Lobos found their rythm offensively in the second period, shooting 50% from the floor and 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. This marked a important enhancement from their 29% shooting performance in the first half (10-of-34). the Lobos’ ability to adjust their offensive strategy proved crucial in overcoming a resolute Nevada squad.
“We just needed to find our flow,” a senior official stated. “We knew we were capable of shooting better, and the guys came out with a renewed focus in the second half.”
Hall Breaks Freshman 3-Point Record
The victory was highlighted by a record-breaking performance from freshman Jake Hall, who went 5-of-9 from three-point range, surpassing the New Mexico freshman record for three-pointers made in a season. Hall finished the game with 19 points, leading all Lobos scorers.Uriah Tennette added 13 points, while Tomislav Buljan and JT Rock each contributed 11. Buljan also dominated the boards, securing 15 rebounds.
Nevada’s Shooting Struggles and Late Push
Despite a strong start to the second half, where they briefly held an eight-point lead (44-36), Nevada’s shooting cooled off considerably. The Wolf Pack finished the game shooting 42% from the field (25-of-60) and a dismal 6-of-23 from three-point range.
Nevada mounted a late challenge, with Vaughn Weems hitting a three-pointer with 1:26 remaining to cut the deficit to 76-70. though, the Lobos held firm, closing out the game with a 80-73 win.
Key Contributors for nevada
Corey Camper Jr.led the Wolf Pack with 20 points, while Vaughn Weems and Elijah Price each added 16. Price also led Nevada in rebounding with 11. Despite their individual efforts, Nevada struggled to overcome New Mexico’s second-half surge and ultimately fell to 6-3 in the Mountain West and 14-6 overall.
Statistical Breakdown
The game featured 15 lead changes and nine ties, underscoring its competitive nature. While Nevada outscored New Mexico 32-22 in the paint and held a 42-38 rebounding edge, the Lobos capitalized on turnovers, scoring 20 points off of Nevada’s 12 turnovers compared to just nine for the Wolf Pack. New Mexico’s bench also proved impactful, outscoring Nevada’s reserves 26-6.
Here’s a further breakdown of key stats:
- New Mexico Shooting: 39% overall (24-of-62), 14-of-28 from three-point range, 20-of-27 from the free-throw line.
- Nevada Shooting: 42% overall (25-of-60), 6-of-23 from three-point range, 17-of-21 from the free-throw line.
- Turnovers: Nevada – 12, New Mexico – 9.
- Assists: New Mexico – 15, Nevada – 10.
Looking Ahead for Nevada
The Wolf Pack will return home to face grand canyon on Tuesday, January 27th, at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Lopes, in their first season in the Mountain West, recently defeated Fresno State 68-57 on Saturday.
Nevada’s remaining schedule includes matchups against UNLV,Boise State,Fresno State,San Diego State,San Jose State,Utah state,and a rematch against New Mexico on February 24th.The Mountain West men’s tournament is scheduled for March 11-14 in Las Vegas.
