Feb. 20, 2006
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The New Mexico Lobos (16-9, 7-5 MWC) look to continue their ascent in the Mountain West Conference standings when they travel to Air Force (21-5, 9-4 MWC) Wednesday. Game time is 7:07 p.m. MST from Clune Arena at the United States Air Force Academy. The game will be televised by SportsWest with local distribution on UPN 50.
New Mexico is riding a season-high four-game winning streak and has taken its last two contests away from The Pit after starting 0-8 on the road. Air Force has won three in a row.
The Falcons got a big win last Saturday at Utah as Jacob Burtschi’s 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining provided a 52-51 decision. The 21 wins rank second for a season in Academy history.
The Lobos are in fifth place in the MWC, however, they are just one game behind Air Force, BYU and UNLV in the loss column.
Starting with Air Force, UNM’s last four games are against the top four teams in the conference. New Mexico hosts league-leader San Diego State Saturday then closes the regular season next week at home against UNLV and at BYU.
Following a 62-59 victory over Air Force in The Pit on Jan. 21, the Lobos are looking for their first sweep over the Falcons in six years, since the 2000 season. That means UNM has not won on Air Force’s home floor in its last five trips.
The challenge of winning at the Academy will be daunting. The Falcons have won 15 straight at Clune Arena, and 39 of their past 40 since the last game of the 2002-03 season, a 68-60 triumph over the Lobos.
Recent history suggests a close outcome as three of the last four games between New Mexico and Air Force have been decided by 3 points or less, while four of the past five at the Academy have been decided by 4 points or less.
UNM’s Ritchie McKay is going after his 150th career coaching win. He is 149-137 in his ninth season as a head coach.
Winless in the first eight road games of the season, the Lobos swept their last trip at Colorado State and TCU. UNM staged its largest road comeback in 10 years to defeat the Rams 80-78. The Lobos trailed 40-29 early in the second half.
Three days later, New Mexico held TCU to its worst shooting percentage in school history in a 53-42 victory. The Horned Frogs converted only 21% (13-62) of their tries from the floor, the worst accuracy by a Lobo opponent in almost 42 years.
NEW MEXICO-AIR FORCE SERIES – It’s the 57th meeting and the Lobos have a 41-15 advantage, although it’s just 7-6 in UNM’s favor in MWC games. After the 62-59 win in The Pit last month, the Lobos look for their first season sweep since 2000. UNM has lost five straight at the Academy.
Air Force won 64-62 last year at home despite collecting just 9 rebounds and allowing the Lobos to shoot 69% from the field. However, the Falcons had a 31-8 scoring edge in points off turnovers of which UNM had 23.
Jan. 21 in Albuquerque: Mark Walters scored 20 points and made up for a late turnover by taking a charge as New Mexico extended its homecourt winning streak to 21 games with a 62-59 win over Air Force.
New Mexico needed the clutch scoring of Walters, some tenacious defense down the stretch and solid free throw shooting – 13-of-15 in the second half. Still, the Falcons took the Lobos to the final buzzer. Jacob Burtschi, who scored a career-high 28 points, came up short on his off-balance 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Burtschi hit his fifth 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to get the Falcons within 60-59. On the ensuing New Mexico possession, Walters threw the ball right into the hands of Air Force guard Antoine Hood. Hood drove into the lane and tried to force his way past Walters, who stood his ground and drew a charging call.
Ryan Kersten was fouled with 8 seconds left and hit both free throws, setting up Burtschi’s last-second airball. UNM led 60-56 after Kris Collins, a career 59 percent free throw shooter, hit two free throws with 30.6 seconds remaining. Collins finished 5-for-5 from the line and was part of a five-point turnaround late in the second half.
Trailing 49-47, Air Force came up with a steal and had a 3-on-1 break. Dan Nwaelele found Hood open underneath, but Hood missed the open layup. New Mexico got the rebound and Collins hit a layup and was fouled. His three-point play put the Lobos up 52-47.
Air Force managed two ties in the final 2:17, the first at 54-54 on a 3-pointer by Matt McCraw and at 56 when McCraw hit two free throws after being fouled by Lobo Tony Danridge on a 3-point shot with 1:14 remaining.
Danridge scored 12 points and Kersten 11 for New Mexico which hit a season-high 58.3 percent of its shots against the best defensive scoring team in the country.
Last year at the USAFA: Nick Welch scored 19 points and Air Force won its 22nd straight home game, beating New Mexico 64-62 despite grabbing just nine rebounds and allowing the Lobos to shoot nearly 70 percent. Air Force couldn’t stop the Lobos from hitting shots and had trouble getting inside for rebounds, making up for it by harassing the Lobos into 23 turnovers – 16 on steals – that led to 31 points.
New Mexico shot a staggering 69 percent, had just three players – Troy DeVries, Mark Walters and Alfred Neale – miss shots, and had a 28-9 rebounding advantage. Even with the mistakes, New Mexico still had a chance at the end. The Lobos got within three on DeVries’ layup two minutes into the second half, then went more than six minutes without a field goal as Air Force pushed the lead to 45-36. New Mexico got close again, fell behind by 10, then made a late 11-0 run, taking a 58-57 lead on Neale’s 3-pointer with 46 seconds left.
Air Force took the lead right back with 29 seconds left, when Welch powered inside for a three-point play that made it 60-58. The Lobos never got a chance to get it back. Matt McCraw snared another sloppy crosscourt pass by DeVries and hit two free throws with 21 seconds left to put the Falcons up four, then Welch hit two free throws after David Chiotti scored at the other end. Chiotti led New Mexico with 17 points and Neale added 15.
GAME PREVIEW – Wednesday’s game matches the top-two defensive teams in the Mountain West Conference. Not only do the Falcons lead the league in scoring defense, but they also lead the nation in that category, giving up just 53.8 ppg. Ten times this season Air Force opponents have failed to reach 50 points. UNM is yielding 62.8 ppg.
Offensively, Air Force is very efficient as it ranks among the nation’s top teams in FG% (48.8%), 3-point FGs per game (8.8), 3-point FG% (40%), FT% (75.6%), scoring margin (+10.9) and fewest turnovers committed (11.0 tpg). The Falcons also lead the league in 3-point FG percentage defense at 31.4%. The Lobos are 7th in the conference in field-goal defense at 44.5%.
The Falcons’ dominance in 2005-06 is even more impressive considering they have their third head coach in as many years in Jeff Bzdelik and they are playing without senior forward Nick Welch, the 2003-04 MWC co-Player of the Year who is sitting out this season after having a two surgies on his left foot and ankle over the summer. Welch started all 30 games last year, averaging 12 points and 3.6 rebounds and finishing in the top-10 in the MWC in steals, assists and 3-point shooting.
Individually, the Falcons’ five starters – four of whom are juniors – entered the season with 11 years of varsity experience compared to the Lobos’ seven. Senior wing Antoine Hood leads four starters who are averaging in double figures at 14.3 ppg. Those top-four scorers also have at least 59 assists apiece and are shooting a combined 77.8% from the FT line. Junior Jacob Burtschi scored a career-high 28 points against UNM in The Pit last month.
LOBO NITTY-GRITTY – The Lobos have a 42-16 record the past two seasons, the most wins among Mountain West Conference schools…Utah is 41-18
The Lobos’ 42 wins the past two seasons are the most in consecutive years since gathering 43 in 1998-99 (25) and 1999-00 (18)
Likewise, UNM’s 17 victories in MWC play are the most in back-to-back conference campaigns since winning 18 in 1998-99 (9 in the WAC) and 1999-00 (9 in MWC)
At 16-9, the Lobos are guaranteed their 22nd non-losing season – and 20th winning record – in the past 23 years…New Mexico’s only sub-.500 record since 1983-84 was 10-18 in 2002-03
Despite averaging 61 points, shooting 43.5% from the field, 32% from 3-point, 66% from the FT line and being out-rebounded by an average of 8 boards a game, New Mexico has won a season-high four games in a row…that’s because the Lobos have limited the opponents to 54.5 ppg on 35% shooting, including 32% from 3-point…UNM also has a positive turnover margin of 4.3 during the streak
UNM is 10-2 in February games the past two seasons
The 11 millionth fan to watch a Lobo game in The Pit will pass through the turnstiles for Saturday’s home game against San Diego State…UNM has drawn 10,995,521 fans – 4,479 shy – for 702 regular season and post-season games (exhibition games do not count)…that’s an average of 15,663 since the first game on Dec. 1, 1966
New Mexico is 23-1 in its last 24 home games and 37-3 in the past 40 outings
Defense Wins: The Lobos have allowed just 87 points the past two games, a 53-42 victory at TCU and a 47-45 decision over Wyoming…that’s the fewest points given up in consecutive games since December of 1985 when UNM beat New Mexico State 54-44 and Kent State 52-40…it’s the fewest points in consecutive conference games in 57 years…playing in the Border Conference, the Lobos knocked off Arizona State 41-38 and Northern Arizona 46-41 in February of 1949
The last time UNM posted three straight sub-50-point outings was January of 1984 and all were wins on the road: 57-47 at Air Force, 55-47 at Colorado State and 40-38 at Wyoming
Defense Part II: UNM held TCU and Wyoming to less than 30% shooting from the floor…the last time that happened in back-to-back games was the first two games of the 1981-82 season against Midwestern State (26.9%) and Missouri Baptist (27.9%)
Mark Walters and Air Force’s Jacob Burtschi are the only players in the MWC that rank in the top-20 in points, rebounds, assists and steals…however, Walters is the lone MWC player who ranks in the top-20 in those categories and 3-point FGs (1.96 per game)
Walters and David Chiotti each gained admttance into UNM’s 1,000-point club in the Jan. 14 contest at Wyoming…the last time two Lobos reached 1,000 points in the same season, let alone the same game, was Luc Longley and Rob Robbins in 1989-90
Walters could enter a more exclusive club, that of 1,000 points and 500 rebounds…there are presently 13 members with Chiotti the most recent addition…Walters is 36 caroms shy
BYU ENDS HOME WINNING STREAK…AGAIN – Before the loss to BYU on Feb. 1, New Mexico’s 21-game home winning streak tied for the 3rd-longest streak in school history and was the 4th-longest current string in NCAA Div. I hoops. The Cougars have now snapped the top-three home winning streaks in Lobo history.
The last home loss for the Lobos before BYU was 81-74 to No. 5 Wake Forest on Dec. 22, 2004. UNM had also prevailed in 10 consecutive MWC home games, the most recent loss being dealt by UNLV (78-75) on March 1, 2004.
Still, after going 18-1 at home last year, the Lobos have won 31 of their past 33 in The Pit and are 43-4 in their last 47.
GOV. RICHARDSON MAKES FINANCIAL PLEDGE TO PIT RENOVATION – New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced at a news conference Jan. 28 that he is pledging $15 million to improving athletics facilities at the University of New Mexico. The focal point of Richardson’s capital outlay is an $8 million down payment for the renovation and modernization of The Pit/Bob King Court. The venerable arena is currently in its 40th year of existence.
Additionally, Richardson said $6 million will be provided to construct an indoor workout complex for Lobo football and other Olympic sports, while $1 million is targeted to build lockerrooms and meetings rooms for men’s and women’s soccer.
The preliminary scope of work at The Pit includes the expansion of the north, east and west concourses. The north concourse will house a new entrance, ticket office and Lobo Store. The expansion of the east and west concourses will provide new restrooms and concessions areas and easier mobility for fans. Richardson said he would like to see the project at The Pit completed in the next two years.
“It has been almost 23 years since Jim Valvano and North Carolina State won the national championship in The Pit,” said Gov. Richardson. “If it is to continue to be one of the best arenas in college basketball, it has to be updated, and this is the first step in that effort. The Pit is nearly 40 years old. This money will be used to provide fan conveniences that have become necessary to continue UNM’s storied history with NCAA men’s and women’s tournament games.”
“One of the last things Con Colbert (UNM deputy athletics director) and I wanted to see happen before we retired was a renovation plan for The Pit,” said University of New Mexico director of athletics Rudy Davalos. “Governor Richardson’s extremely generous commitment to not only the arena, but to the indoor facility and soccer facility, has made this possible. The modernization of The Pit is a benefit not only to Lobo athletics and our fans, but to the entire state of New Mexico. It will greatly enhance the state boy’s and girl’s high school basketball tournaments, NCAA basketball tournaments that UNM plans to host, plus other events like concerts and shows.”
LOBO HEAD COACH Ritchie McKay – Ritchie McKay is his fourth season in charge of Lobo hoops and his 11th year as a collegiate head coach. He was named UNM’s 18th head coach on March 28, 2002.
He has a career record of 149-137, 65-48 at New Mexico. McKay is 56-13 at home, 40-20 in all non-conference games, 36-7 in non-league games at The Pit and 5-13 in road/neutral games. He is 26-28 in MWC games, 21-6 at home and 5-22 on the road.
The 26-7 record in 2004-05 is easily the best season of McKay’s career, surpassing a 19-11 ledger at Colorado State in 1998-99. The Lobos won the MWC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999, while posting the second-highest win total in school history. It was McKay’s first trip to the Big Dance.
McKay had previous two-year stops at Portland State (1996-98), Colorado State (1998-2000) and Oregon State (2000-02).
BIG-TIME TURNAROUND UNDER McKAY – Head coach Ritchie McKay’s first two Lobo teams went 24-32, but UNM had just eight scholarship players available in his first season of 2002-03 and only 10 in his second year. Since the 5/8 rule was repealed after the 2003-04 season, the Lobos have posted a 42-16 record since 2004-05, the most wins among MWC schools. Other tidbits:
McKay, Norm Ellenberger and Dave Bliss are the only head coaches to take the Lobos to the NCAA Tournament within their first three years at the post
Picked to finish 4th in the MWC in 2004-05, the Lobos finished 26-7 overall, 2nd in the conference at 10-4, won the MWC Tournament for the first time in nine years and only the third time in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years
The 26 wins in 2004-05 were the second-best total in school history and were a 12-win improvement from 2003-04…that tied for the 2nd-largest jump in program history and tied for the 3rd-highest in NCAA Div. I men’s basketball
Won five straight games away from The Pit in 2004-05, a feat last accomplished in 1977-78
Five Lobo seniors who completed their eligibility at UNM are now playing professionally (Javin Tindall, Ruben Douglas, Alfred Neale, Troy DeVries and Danny Granger)…the other two – Ryan Ashcraft and Senque Carey – had their careers cut short by injury
WYOMING RECAP & NOTES – Mark Walters scored 12 points to carry a lethargic New Mexico offense that sputtered and stumbled to a 47-45 win over Wyoming. New Mexico won its fourth straight but it wasn’t pretty. The Lobos shot 38.8 percent, hit just 3-of-14 on 3-pointers and nearly squandered a 10-point lead in the final 4:41 when their only points were a pair of free throws.
Wyoming got 17 points from Steve Leven and 18 rebounds from Justin Williams, but the Cowboys’ problems on offense outdid New Mexico. The Cowboys hit just 15-of-51 shots (29.4 percent) and their 45 points was a season low.
Leven and freshman guard Brandon Ewing, averaging 12 points a game, were a combined 5-of-24 from the field, with Ewing going 1-for-10. Williams, second nationally with 116 blocked shots, didn’t have one against New Mexico, only the second time this season he has failed to get a block. Still, the Cowboys had a chance until the final buzzer.
With New Mexico missing shots and making turnovers, the Cowboys cut a 45-35 deficit with 4:41 left to 46-44 with 34.7 seconds remaining on Leven’s bank shot.
New Mexico center David Chiotti hit one of two free throws with 25.6 seconds left and the Cowboys set up Leven for a 3-pointer. Leven, who hit three 3s in the game, couldn’t shake defender Kris Collins and his off-balance 3-pointer with six seconds left came up short.
Wyoming got a final chance after Lobo guard Tony Danridge missed the front end of a one-and-one with 2.6 seconds remaining.
Collins fouled Ewing in the backcourt to prevent the Cowboys from getting off a 3-point attempt. Ewing hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but Walters tipped the ball out of bounds as time expired.
UNM won despite setting season-lows for points (47), 3-pt. FGs made (3), 3-pt. FG% (3- 14, 21%) and FT% (6-15, 40%), and being out-rebounded by 14
UNM is now 6-0 in games decided by 4 points or less this season
Wyoming’s 45 points are the lowest under eighth-year head coach Steve McClain and the fewest since a 60-41 loss at BYU on Jan. 15, 1998…it’s the fewest points for both teams in the series since UNM had a 47-45 win in Laramie on Jan. 9, 1986…that’s also the last time the Lobos scored 47 points or less and won
Wyoming shot 29.4% (15-51) from the floor, including 25% (7-28) in the second half
New Mexico’s last 2 opponents have shot a combined 24.8% (28-113) from the floor…the Lobos have held three teams under 30% shooting this year: Ole Miss – 25.5% (14-55), TCU – 21% (13-62) and Wyoming…the last time UNM held its opponent under 30% FG shooting in back-to-back games was the first two games of the 1981-82 season against Midwestern State (26.9%) and Missouri Baptist (27.9%)
New Mexico limited UW guard Brandon Ewing to 3 points on 1-10 shooting, including 0-3 from 3-point range…that’s his lowest output since scoring 2 points in the season opener against Alabama State…Ewing had 23 points and was 4-4 from beyond the arc the first time he faced the Lobos on Jan. 14
Wyoming failed to block a shot for just the second time this year and the first time with a healthy Justin Williams in the lineup…the Cowboys entered the game leading the MWC and ranked fourth in the country with an average of 6.9 blocks per game…Williams, the MWC career blocked shots leader, started the night ranked second in the nation averaging 5.3 blocks/game…he also failed to record a block vs. San Diego State (Jan. 28)
UNM trailed at halftime (24-23) for the third time at home this season, but has come back to win all three…the Lobos also overcame a 4-point deficit (32-28) to defeat New Mexico State (71-68 OT) and beat Air Force 62-59 after trailing 25-24 at halftime
Since 2002-03 under Ritchie McKay, the Lobos are now 6-33 when trailing at halftime, but they have come back to win 4 times this year
The Lobo starters scored the team’s first 32 points
New Mexico is now 9-0 this year when holding the opponent to less than 60 points