Post-Game Notes
Dec. 4, 2004
The Lobos are now 7-1 on the season after tonight’s 84-66 victory at New Mexico State…the win snaps UNM’s 27-game road losing streak and a 29-game skid including neutral courts…the last win had been 70-64 at Colorado State on Jan. 28, 2002…the last non-conference road win was also at NMSU, a 66-64 decision on Dec. 5, 2001.
The 7-1 start is the best for a Ritchie McKay-coached team, who is in his 8th season as a head coach and third at New Mexico…his 2000-01 Colorado State team began 6-1.
New Mexico sweeps New Mexico State for the first time since the 2001-02 season…the 18-point margin is the Lobos’ biggest over the Aggies in Las Cruces since an 86-66 win on Jan. 29, 1969…UNM has won 6 of the past 10 meetings at the Pan American Center.
With 22 points and 15 rebounds, senior Danny Granger recorded the 22nd double-double of his collegiate career, his 12th as a Lobo and 4th this season…Granger also had a career-high 6 assists after coming into the game with only 8 the first 7 games of the season.
Granger has averaged 22.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in 3 career games against New Mexico…he did not play against the Aggies in Las Cruces last year.
New Mexico had its best game of the year at the FT line, converting 78% (18-23)…the Lobos also had a season-low 9 turnovers…that’s now 21 turnovers the past 2 games after averaging nearly 18 the first six games of the season.
The Lobos had a 39-29 rebounding edge, including a 29-14 bulge in the 2nd half…UNM posted a season-high 18 offensive rebounds…it’s the most offensive boards since getting 19 at Texas Tech in December of 2002.
Junior Mark Walters finished with 17 points and has scored in double figures 5 times in the first 8 games…he only reached double figures twice last season…down 7-0 and 19-14, Walters 3-pointer gave UNM a 26-25 lead that it would never relinquish.
David Chiotti pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds, 9 of those coming in the 2nd half.
UNM led 53-50, but went on a 19-6 run to take a 72-56 advantage with a little more than six minutes left in the game.