New Mexico Routs Northern Colorado, 86-52
Dec. 9, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Danny Granger scored 21 points, 12 of them in a row
in one stretch, and New Mexico beat Northern Colorado 86-52 Thursday night.
New Mexico (8-1) shook off a lackluster first half with a 15-0 run in the
first three minutes of the second half. Granger, who scored the Lobos’ last
eight points in the first half, got the second half run going with a pair of
baskets inside.
Granger also had 11 rebounds. David Chiotti also had a double-double with 14
points and 11 rebounds.
New Mexico forced the slow-footed Bears (2-8) into five turnovers in the
first four minutes of the second half and converted most of them into points.
The Lobos hit eight of their first nine shots in the second half.
Kris Collins scored four points, Mark Walters and Chiotti hit lay-ups and
Alfred Neale a 3-pointer in the run that put away the Bears.
Northern Colorado, an independent in its second year in Division II, was led
by freshman guard Sean Taibi with 18 points. Freshman reserve center Kirk
Archibeque scored 11.
The Bears stayed close in the first half by hitting six 3-pointers, while
New Mexico was going 2-of-10 from behind the arc.
Unable to hit 3s, New Mexico used its size advantage and Granger’s eight
straight points over the final 3:47 of the first half to take a 34-25 lead. The
34 points is the fewest New Mexico has scored in the first half this season.
The Lobos had eight offensive rebounds in the first half and 16 for the game
in out-rebounding Northern Colorado 41-29.
Granger, averaging 18.5 points a game this season, didn’t score until almost
eight minutes into the game. He and Chiotti each hit 6 of 9 shots from the
field, while Granger also was 9-for-10 at the free throw line.
Northern Colorado shot only five free throws, all of them in the game’s
final 10 minutes.