Granger Leads Lobos in First Exhibition
Nov. 1, 2004
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University of New Mexico senior forward Danny Granger started warming up for a possible 2004-05 All-America campaign on Monday night, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds in just 20 minutes as the Lobos cruised past Eastern New Mexico, 99-67, in the exhibition season opener in The Pit. Granger, who also added four assists, two blocks and two steals, was one of three UNM players in double digits. Senior guard Troy DeVries and junior forward David Chiotti had 14 apiece, while guard Jason Breland led ENMU with 11 points.
More importantly for head coach Ritchie McKay, all 12 active players on the New Mexico roster played solid minutes. Eleven players scored and played at least 11 minutes as UNM shot 50.9 percent from the floor and hit 11-22 (50%) three-pointers. ENMU was held to 40 percent shooting (22-55) and knocked down just 3-10 from beyond the arc. The two teams combined for 38 turnovers in each school’s first exhibition contest of the year.
New Mexico used a 19-0 run four minutes into the first half to take control of the game. After a three-pointer by ENMU guard Jamal Washington cut the Lobo lead to 13-9 at the 16:32 mark, the UNM defense stiffened, holding the Greyhounds scoreless over the next seven minutes.
Chiotti ignited the scoring burst with a baseline dunk off a nice pass from Granger. UNM also got threes from Devries, freshman Darren Prentice and junior Mark Walters as it extended its lead to 31-9 with 9:29 left to play in the period.
Among the 12 players that saw action for the Lobos were freshmen Bambale “Boom” Osby (4 points, 6 rebounds), Darren Prentice (9 points, 3-4 3FGs), Tony Dandridge (6 points, 3 rebounds) and Sean Phaler (5 points, 2 blocks). Junior college transfer guard Kris Collins replaced departed senior Javin Tindall in the starting lineup and finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal in 20 minutes.
Walters, now wearing No. 5 this year, had a game-high six assists, while Devries canned 4-6 from three-point range. Senior forward Alfred Neale added nine points and six boards off the bench.
New Mexico continues its exhibition season on Saturday when it hosts Sul Ross State University, out of Alpine, Texas. Tip-off from The Pit is set for 1 p.m.