Nov. 12, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – J.R. Giddens had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead New Mexico to a 92-56 nonconference win over Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon.
The Lobos didn’t play a starter more than Giddens’ 26 minutes. Twenty-one minutes was enough time for Aaron Johnson to score 12 points and grab eight rebounds. Tony Danridge scored 12 points and grabbed a pair of steals in 19 minutes.
While those three New Mexico starters reached double digits in scoring, seven of eight reserves scored as the Lobos shot 57.6 percent from the field, and limited Sacramento State to a poor second half shooting – just 27.3 percent from the field.
Forward Alex Bausley led Sacramento State with 13 points.
Sacramento State had scored 107 points in a 107-73 season-opening win against NAIA Bethany on Friday. But the Hornets haven’t won a season-opening road game since 1999.
The Lobos led 47-33 at halftime, and after a Roderick Adams layup for Sacramento State, the Lobos went on a 15-0 run to lead 62-35 with 15:39 left in the game.
“This is a team that can score in bunches, and when we’ve got the perimeter weaponry that we have, we can’t forget about Aaron Johnson and Daniel (Faris), because those guys are capable scorers in the post,” New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay said.
Faris came off the bench to score nine points.
New Mexico did not have to struggle to break Sacramento State’s pressure defense early in the game, and a pair of Chad Toppert 3-pointers gave New Mexico a 20-14 lead with 10:49 left in the first half. New Mexico turned over the ball just four times in the first half and finished with nine in the game.
Once New Mexico was able to get through Sacramento State’s defense, the Lobos turned up the offense and outscored the Hornets 12-0 on fast-break baskets in the first half.
New Mexico junior point guard Jamaal Smith dished out four assists to go with seven points. As a team, New Mexico had 18 assists on 34 field goals.
The Lobos improved to 2-0, and Sacramento State is 1-1.