Feb. 4, 2006
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The people’s choice finally got some prime time and he didn’t let them down.
Joel Box, popular with New Mexico fans but for most of the season out-of-favor with coach Ritchie McKay, got his first start Saturday. In a solid and season-high 25 minutes on the court, Box scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and had two steals in the Lobos’ 64-53 win over Utah.
“It felt good, it felt really good to start,” the soft-spoken power forward said. “I’ve been working harder and doing some extra work and stuff and it really paid off. That’s what got me my start tonight.”
Box’s first season with the Lobos has been a mix of potential and problems. He came to New Mexico as a highly touted scorer from junior college, but quickly found himself at the end of McKay’s bench. Box quit the team right after Christmas, was reinstated less than two weeks later, then briefly quit the team again.
He had a season-high 14 points in 14 minutes against Brigham Young on Wednesday night, a game the Lobos lost 77-71.
McKay has caught considerable criticism from New Mexico fans for not giving Box more playing time. On talk shows, the fans overwhelmingly came down on Box’s side and Box finally got the starting call Saturday. He scored the game’s first points on a 12-foot jumper, added a 3-pointer and scored five points in an 11-2 run that gave New Mexico the lead for good in the first half.
“I wasn’t nervous,” Box said. “That’s what I’m used to — starting.”
The scoring of Box, David Chiotti and Mark Walters allowed the Lobos to overcome another late game scoring slump.
New Mexico (13-9, 4-5 MWC) snapped a two-game losing streak. The Lobos had back-to-back losses to UNLV and Brigham Young in games in which New Mexico failed to score a field goal in the final five minutes of those games.
This time it was Utah (10-10, 3-6 MWC) that struggled offensively. The Utes also had 19 turnovers, 13 of them in the first half.
“You go back to an old nemesis, which is turnovers,” said Utah coach Ray Giacoletti. “You give your opponent, especially on the road, too many opportunities. We are trying to do things that are out of character, trying to do things you can’t do.”
Utah had just five field goals in the first half, missing 15 of 20 field goals. The Utes shot better in the second half, hitting 11 of 21 shots, but still trailed 56-40 with 5:48 left after Chiotti scored inside.
But New Mexico’s shooters then went cold and Utah scored nine straight points. The run ended with a 3-pointer by point guard Johnnie Bryant that got the Utes within 56-49 with 3:41 left. Bryant led the Utes in scoring with 15 points, 10 of them in the second half.
Walters got the Lobos offense going again with a basket inside with 1:24 remaining. Kyle Prochaska followed with a layup and Chiotti hit two free throws and a dunk off a steal.
Walters and Chiotti each scored 14 points and Prochaska had five offensive rebounds and 9 points.
“He’s a junkyard dog type of player,” McKay said of the 6-foot-6 Prochaska, who hit 4 of 6 shots and several times beat the taller Utah frontline to the boards.
The Lobos scored the game’s first seven points. Walters followed Box’s first basket with a baseline jumper and 3-pointer. New Mexico then went scoreless for the next 7 1/2 minutes, and the Utes took their only lead of the game at 8-7 on a bankshot by Jonas Langvad with 11:39 left in the first half.
The Utes’ lead disappeared quickly as New Mexico countered with an 11-2 run and a 29-19 lead with 46 seconds left in the opening period.
Besides Box getting to start, New Mexico fans also got to see a different side of McKay — a calmer, less vociferous version. McKay, who often challenges the refs’ calls and stomps and hollers on the sidelines, did none of that Saturday.
“I told the guys I want them to enjoy it,” McKay said of his new look. “I want the guys to know I’m confident in them and I’ve got to continue to remember to enjoy it as well.”