May 4, 2005
University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Ritchie McKay announced the Lobos’ 2005-06 non-conference schedule today. UNM will play a pair of exhibition games before its 13-game pre-conference slate begins on Friday, November 18 against South Carolina State. The new, 16-game Mountain West Conference schedule, which includes the addition of TCU, will be released at a later date.
New Mexico will begin with two exhibition games against New Mexico Highlands (Nov. 5) and Seattle Pacific (Nov. 12). The regular season gets underway when the Lobos face South Carolina State in the opening game of the Jim Thorpe Classic to be held at The Pit from November 18-20. UNM will also face Ole Miss and Southern Utah in the round-robin tournament.
The first road trip of the year takes New Mexico to Manhattan, Kansas, for a November 23 match-up against Kansas State. It is just the second time in school history the Lobos visit the Wildcats. K-State won the last meeting in Manhattan, 94-52, on December 2, 1961, and the Wildcats hold a 2-1 series lead.
The Lobos return home to face long-time rival UTEP on Saturday, November 26 at The Pit. It is the first meeting since December 18, 1999. The Miners won both games in the 1999-2000 season, but UNM holds a 73-63 series lead that started in 1929.
The annual home-and-home series with New Mexico State starts on Saturday, December 3 in Las Cruces, N.M. The Aggies return to The Pit on Tuesday, December 13. UNM has won 103 of the 194 games against NMSU, including the last three.
Splitting the two Aggie games will be the Lobos’ second appearance in the John Wooden Classic on December 10, in Anaheim, Calif. UNM fell to No. 15 UCLA, 69-58, on December 6, 1997, in its only other appearance in the JWC. The Lobos’ opponent for the 2005 Classic will be set at a later date.
The Lobos welcome Oregon to The Pit on Saturday, December 17, for the Ducks’ first trip to Albuquerque since 1990. Oregon returns all five starters from a team that defeated UNM 79-75 in Eugene, Ore., last season. New Mexico also faces Alcorn State from the Southwestern Athletic Conference on Monday, December 19 at The Pit. UNM hits the road again for a December 22 tilt against the University of San Diego Toreros. The Lobos travel to San Diego every year to take on the San Diego State Aztecs in conference play, but this will be the first trip to Southern California to face USD.
The non-conference slate ends with the 41st annual Comcast Lobo Invitational at The Pit on December 28-29. New Mexico faces Dartmouth and Texas-Arlington plays Radford in the opening round games.
The 2005-06 schedule features a possible four teams from BCS conferences, including Ole Miss, Oregon, Kansas State and the John Wooden Classic opponent. The last time UNM played four BCS schools in the regular season was 1997-98 when it faced Arizona, Texas Tech, Southern California and UCLA.
UNM’s conference schedule welcomes the addition of TCU, increasing the number of conference games from 14 to 16 next season. The Mountain West Conference Tournament is set for Thursday thru Saturday, March 10-12, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
2005-06 Basketball Schedule (as of May 4, 2005)
Sat. Nov. 5 New Mexico Highlands (exhibition)
Sat. Nov. 12 Seattle Pacific (exhibition)
Fri-Sun. Nov. 18-20 Jim Thorpe Classic (The Pit, Albuquerque, N.M.)
Fri. Nov. 18 New Mexico vs. South Carolina State
Ole Miss vs. Southern Utah
Sat. Nov. 19 New Mexico vs. Ole Miss
South Carolina State vs. Southern Utah
Sun. Nov. 20 New Mexico vs. Southern Utah
Ole Miss vs. South Carolina State
Wed. Nov. 23 at Kansas State
Sat. Nov. 26 UTEP
Sat. Dec. 3 at New Mexico State
Sat. Dec. 10 (John Wooden Classic at Anaheim, Calif.)
Tues. Dec. 13 New Mexico State
Sat. Dec. 17 Oregon
Mon. Dec. 19 Alcorn State
Thu. Dec. 22 at U. of San Diego
Wed-Thu. Dec. 28-29 41st COMCAST Lobo Invitational
Wed. Dec. 28 New Mexico vs. Dartmouth
Radford vs. Texas-Arlington
Thu. Dec. 29 Third Place Game
Championship Game
Thu-Sat. March 8-11 MWC Tournament at Pepsi Center (Denver)
Friday, Nov. 18 – South Carolina State (Jim Thorpe Classic)
2004-05 Record: 19-12
2004-05 MEAC Record (Finish): 11-7 (4th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 4/10
Starters Lost/Returning: 3/2
Top Returners:
Brian Mason, G/F, 6-3, 190, Jr., 10.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Derrick Davis, G, 6-0, 180, So., 8.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
Northern Arizona – Lost 75-85 on 12-30-04
North Carolina A&T – Won 73-65 on 3-5-05
Saturday, Nov. 19 – Ole Miss (Jim Thorpe Classic)
2004-05 Record: 14-16
2004-05 SEC Record (Finish): 4-12 (5th West)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 7/7
Starters Lost/Returning: 4/1
Top Returners:
Londrick Nolen, 192, F, 6-6, Sr., 9.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Todd Abernathy, 190, G, 6-1, Jr., 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
Air Force – Lost 36-60 on 11-15-04
Troy – Won 81-49 on 12-15-04
Tennessee – Won 60-58 on 2-19-05
Sunday, Nov. 20 – Southern Utah (Jim Thorpe Classic)
2004-05 Record: 13-15
2004-05 Mid-Continent Record (Finish): 6-10 (8th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 3/9
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Rand Janes, F, 6-4, 190, Sr., 8.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Jason Baker, G, 6-2, 185, Sr., 8.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
Utah – Lost 45-65 on 11-30-04
BYU – Lost 52-77 on 12-28-04
Wednesday, Nov. 23 – at Kansas State
2004-05 Record: 17-12
2004-05 Big 12 Record (Finish): 6-10 ()
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 6/8
Starters Lost/Returning: 3/2
Top Returners:
Cartier Martin, F, 6-7, 220, Jr., 10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Lance Harris, G, 6-5, 190, Jr., 10.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – Won 76-42 on 11-29-04
Wyoming – Won 64-61 on 12-11-04
Saturday, Nov. 26 – UTEP
2004-05 Record: 27-8
2004-05 WAC Record (Finish): 14-4 (2nd)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 4/11
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Jason Williams, G/F, 6-6, 205, Sr. 11.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Miguel Ayala, G, 6-6, 190, Sr., 7.5 pgg, 2.1 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
New Mexico State – Won 75-64 on 12-15-04
New Mexico State – Won 79-61 on 12-18-04
Utah – Lost 54-60 on 3-17-05
Postseason – NCAA First Round
Saturday, Dec. 3 at New Mexico State & Tuesday, Dec. 13 – New Mexico State
2004-05 Record: 6-24
2004-05 Sun Belt Record (Finish): 1-14 (6th West)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 2/10
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Duane John, G, 6-6, 195, Sr., 14.1 pgg, 5.7 rpg
Mike Mitchell, G, 6-0, 175, Sr., 12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
2004-05 Head to Head:
UNM won 99-80 on 12-1-04
UNM won 84-66 on 12-4-04
Saturday, Dec. 10 -John Wooden Classic – Anaheim, Calif.
Saturday, Dec. 17 – Oregon
2004-05 Record: 14-13
2004-05 PAC 10 Record (Finish): 6-12 (8th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 1/13
Starters Lost/Returning: 0/5
Top Returners:
Aaron Brooks, G, 6-0, 160, Jr., 14.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.6 apg
Malik Hariston, G, 6-6, 200, So., 13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg
2004-05 Head to Head: Oregon Won 79-75 on 11-22-04
Monday, Dec. 19 – Alcorn State
2004-05 Record: 7-22
2004-05 SWAC Record (Finish): 6-12 (19th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 4/10
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Delvin Thompson, 6-1, G, 175, Jr. 14.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
DeAndre Jones, 6-4, G, 205, Sr., 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
Wyoming – Lost 63-77 on 11-19-04
Air Force – Lost 41-67 on 11-21-04
Mississippi Valley State – Lost 59-63 (OT) on 1-15-05
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – Won 53-45 on 1-17-05
Mississippi Valley State – Lost 42-81 on 2-12-05
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – Lost 65-70 on 2-14-05
Thursday, Dec. 22 – at San Diego
2004-05 Record: 16-13
2004-05 West Coast Record (Finish): 7-7 (3rd)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 2/10
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Nick Lewis, F/C, 6-10, 235, Sr., 12.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Floyd North, G/F, 6-5, 220, Sr., 9.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents:
San Diego State – Lost 63-83 on 12-1-04
Texas-Arlington – Lost 83-92 on 12-4-04
Northern Arizona – Won 65-56 on 12-18-04
Wyoming – Won 95-88 on 12-28-04
Santa Clara – Lost 73-85 on 1-23-05
Santa Clara – Won 87-73 on 2-24-05
Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Dartmouth (Comcast Lobo Invitational)
2004-05 Record: 10-17
2004-05 Ivy League Record (Finish): 7-7 (3rd)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 4/11
Starters Lost/Returning: 2/3
Top Returners:
Mike Lang, G, 6-3, 200, Sr., 11.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Calvin Arnold, F, 6-9, 210, Sr., 6.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents: None
Thursday, Dec. 29 – Texas-Arlington (Comcast Lobo Invitational – Possible)
2004-05 Record: 13-15
2004-05 Ivy League Record (Finish): 7-9 (8th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 1/11
Starters Lost/Returning: 0/5
Top Returners:
Jarrett Howell, G, 5-11, 180, Sr., 12.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Brady Dawkins, G, 5-11, 160, Sr., 6.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 4.0 apg
2004-05 Head to Head: UNM won 64-55 on 1-3-05
Thursday, Dec. 29 – Radford (Comcast Lobo Invitational – Possible)
2004-05 Record: 12-16
2004-05 Big South Record (Finish): 7-9 (5th)
Letterwinners Lost/Returning: 2/12
Starters Lost/Returning: 1/4
Top Returners:
Whit Holcomb-Faye, G, 6-1, 169, Sr., 15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Chris Oliver, F, 6-7, 201, Jr., 14.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg
2004-05 Common Opponents: North Carolina A&T – Won 66-61 on 12-2-04