Postgame Notes
Jan. 15, 2005
Despite tying for the 5th-best shooting game in school
history, the Lobos had their 4-game winning streak end
with a 64-62 loss at Air Force. UNM falls to 14-3 overall
and 1-1 in MWC action, while being held to its fewest
points of the season. New Mexico came into the game
averaging 83 ppg.
New Mexico has dropped 4 straight to Air Force for the
second time in the history of the series. AFA won the
first four games between 1957-62. UNM has lost 5 straight
to the Falcons at the Academy. Meanwhile, the Falcons
have won 22 straight games at Clune Arena.
The Lobos made 27 of 39 shots from the floor, which is
69.2%. That’s the best accuracy since UNM made 36 of 52 –
also 69.2% – at BYU on Feb. 27, 1997.
The Falcons shot 50% (22-44) meaning a streak comes to an end: New Mexico had won 30 consecutive games when shooting better than its opponent. The last loss was Jan. 4, 2003, at Tennessee when UNM shot 45% (18-40) to the Vols’ 43% (22-51).
Before today’s game, UNM had shot at least 67.9% from the
field 10 times in school history, and was 10-0 in those
games.
Turnovers were the story. New Mexico committed 23, the
3rd-highest total of the season and the most since 25
miscues against Northern Arizona on Nov. 27. Air Force
had a whopping 31-8 scoring edge in points off of
turnovers, including 20-0 in the first half.
UNM played its first game without senior All-America
candidate Danny Granger, who had arthroscopic knee surgery
Jan. 10. Granger is averaging 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds
and a league-best 2.44 steals a game. He is also shooting
54.2% from 3-point.
The Lobos are 3-4 the past two seasons without Danny
Granger, 25-13 when he is available. Granger became
eligible on Dec. 21, 2003, after transferring from
Bradley.
New Mexico has now lost 20 straight regular-season
conference road games, 23 in a row if you include the past
three conference tournaments. The last MWC road win was
70-64 at Colorado State on Jan. 28, 2002.
Down 57-47 with less than six minutes remaining, the Lobos
used an 11-0 run to take a 59-58 lead with 49 seconds left
on a 3-pointer by Alfred Neale. It was UNM’s first lead
since 8-6. The Falcons’ Nick Welch converted a
conventional 3-point play for a 60-59 lead with 29.8
seconds to go. The Lobos committed their 23rd and final
turnover on their next possession.
Neale, making his first start of the season for the
injured Granger, scored the Lobos’ first 8 points of the
game and finished with 15 on 6-7 shooting from the field.
That’s his best output since getting 15 points at Oregon
on Nov. 22.
Junior David Chiotti led UNM with 17 points, making all 8
of his FGs. It’s Chiotti’s best scoring since he had 18
in the season opener against North Carolina A&T.
Junior G Mark Walters had 13 points, his most since 14
against Tennessee on Dec. 18.
The Lobos out-rebounded Air Force 27-9.