Feb. 27, 2006
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Game 28 New Mexico vs. UNLV
Wednesday, March 1 7:07 p.m. MST
The Pit/Bob King Court Albuquerque, N.M.
It’s Senior Night in Albuquerque Wednesday as New Mexico (16-11, 7-7 MWC) entertains the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (15-11, 9-5 MWC). Game time is 7:07 p.m. MST from The Pit/Bob King Court. There is no local television for the game.
The Lobos’ four seniors – David Chiotti, Kris Collins, Jeff Hart, Mark Walters – will be recognized prior to tip-off. Game sponsors include Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Coyote 102.5 FM and 105.1 The Range.
After winning four in a row, UNM looks to halt a two-game losing skid. The Lobos fell to first-place San Diego State 73-66 last Saturday, only UNM’s second loss in its past 25 home games. New Mexico has not dropped consecutive Mountain West Conference home games since Ritchie McKay took over as head coach before the 2002-03 season. The last time that happened was in 2001-02 under Fran Fraschilla.
McKay is going after his 150th career coaching win. He is 149-139 in his ninth season as a head coach.
The Runnin’ Rebels spoiled Senior Night for Javin Tindall and Ryan Ashcraft two years ago, taking a 78-75 win on March 1, 2004. The Lobos proceeded to win their next 10 MWC home games before BYU stopped the streak a month ago.
A victory over the Rebels will clinch no worse than fifth place for New Mexico in the MWC regular-season standings. That’s exactly where the Lobos were picked to finish in the preseason poll. A UNM win would most likely match them against UNLV in the first round of next week’s MWC Tournament in Denver.
Starting with Air Force last Wednesday, UNM’s last four games are being played against the top four teams in the conference. New Mexico closes the regular season Saturday at BYU. The Lobos have a 6-2 record against the four teams below them in the conference standings, but just 1-5 against the four currently higher.
UNLV fell 68-55 at Air Force on Saturday. The Rebels were held to 38.9% shooting while the Falcons hit a steamy 59%. Louis Amundson scored 16 points for UNLV. The Rebels host TCU Saturday.
GAME PREVIEW – Earlier this year in Las Vegas, New Mexico trailed 41-31 only to rally for a 56-55 lead with 5:03 left. Unfortunately, the Lobos did not score the rest of the evening, falling 67-56. UNM’s last 11 possessions resulted in 11 missed shots, one missed free throw and three turnovers. Senior F Louis Amundson leads a balanced UNLV scoring attack, averaging 14.7 points a game. He’s also among the league leaders with 8.8 rebounds a game and FG% of 53%.
LOBO NITTY-GRITTY – In conference games only, Mark Walters is the only player in the MWC to rank in the top-20 in points, rebounds, assists and steals
David Chiotti needs 2 rebounds to become just the eighth Lobo to reach 1,100 points and 600 boards
The Lobos have a 42-18 record the past two seasons, the most wins among Mountain West Conference schools…Utah is 41-19
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)
UNM’s 3-point shooting has fallen to 33.5% on the season after making 19 of 80 (23.8%) the past four games…that would be the 2nd-worst accuracy by a New Mexico team since the shot became rule in 1986-87…the 1987-88 Lobos converted just 32.7%…thanks to the versatility of Danny Granger and the outside shooting acumen of Troy DeVries and Alfred Neale, last year’s team made 39.1% of its treys, the 3rd-highest in school history…that trio each made at least 40% of their 3-point attempts
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
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 26 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 34 in The Pit.
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 149-139, 65-50 at New Mexico. McKay is 56-14 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 26-30 in MWC games, 21-7 at home and 5-23 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 42-18 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
SAN DIEGO STATE RECAP & NOTES – Brandon Heath hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 32 points Saturday as San Diego State beat New Mexico 73-66 to clinch at least a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title.
San Diego State took control when Heath scored 17 points – including five 3s – in the first six minutes of the second half. Back-to-back 3s by Heath gave the Aztecs the lead for good at 37-32 with 18:38 left and when Heath again went back-to-back with 3s, San Diego State had a 55-43 lead with 13:33 left.
New Mexico got a terrific first half effort from forward Joel Box to forge a 31-31 tie at the break. Box had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the game’s first 15 minutes but scored only 3 points in the second half. He finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Heath hit 10 of 19 shots, was 8-for-13 on 3-pointers and had a team-high six assists.
The Lobos, unable to stop Heath, stayed within range behind Kellen Walter’s three 3-pointers in the second half. But while Walter hit four of seven 3s, the rest of the Lobos were going 2 of 18 in the game from behind the arc.
New Mexico scored seven straight points to cut the Aztecs’ lead to 55-50 on a 3-pointer by Walter with 9:39 left. San Diego State countered with an offensive rebound basket by Mohamed Abukar and a dunk by Marcus Slaughter moments after a 3-pointer by Walter rimmed out that would have cut the Aztecs’ lead to four points.
San Diego State, a program that has consistently struggled over the last three decades, had not shared or won a conference title since 1978. Slaughter had a double-double for the Aztecs with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Abukar scored 15 points.
Walter and Mark Walters each scored 12 points for New Mexico. Walters, the team’s leading scorer, hit just 4 of 17 shots and was 1-for-8 on 3-point shot.
UNM lost in The Pit for only the 2nd time in the past 25 games
The Aztecs beat New Mexico in The Pit for only the 2nd time in their past 21 games here…the other time was 2002, which was the last time SDSU swept the season series from the Lobos
SDSU’s Brandon Heath scored a season-high 32 points on 10-19 FGs, including 8 of 13 from 3-point and five straight to begin the second half…the 32 points is the 2nd-best performance against UNM this year…Alcorn State’s Almaad Jackson had 33
Joel Box had his first double-double as a Lobo with 17 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs…it’s the most rebounds by a New Mexico player this season as are his 8 offensive boards…Box had 14 points and 10 board in the 1st half
New Mexico out-rebounded an opponent (40-32) for only the 8th time this season and 3rd time in an MWC game…however, UNM lost for the first time when gathering more boards…it had been 7-0
San Diego State made 11 of 22 shots from 3-point, including their first 6 of the 2nd half, and connected on 20 of 35 (57%) in the two games against the Lobos this season
The Lobos were 6 of 25 (24%) from 3-point, lowering the overall season percentage to 33.5%, including 31.5% in MWC games…UNM is just 23.8% (19-80) the past 4 games
Junior Kellen Walter tied a career-high with 12 points on 4 of 7 from 3-point…he also had 12 against Oregon…the rest of the Lobo team was 2 of 18 from beyond the arc
A crowd of 14,163 was on hand, pushing the all-time attendance in The Pit above the 11 million mark…it’s 11,009,684 in 703 games, an average of 15,661
Senior Mark Walters passed Johnny Brown and Charlie Thomas for17th place on UNM’s career scoring list with 1,164 points