Dec. 29, 2006
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — J.R. Giddens scored a career-high 26 points and Jamaal Smith hit eight free throws in the final two minutes as New Mexico held off Pepperdine 101-96 in the championship game of the Lobo Invitational on Friday night.
New Mexico (11-3) used the 3-point shooting of Giddens and reserve Chad Toppert to beat the Waves (4-11), who lost despite shooting 61 percent (22 of 36) in the second half and having six players in double figures.
Giddens, who also had 9 rebounds, scored nine points in 19-0 first half run by the Lobos.
Giddens hit six 3s and Toppert hit 5 of 6 shots from behind the arc to match his season high of 20 points. Smith, whose late free throw shooting foiled one Pepperdine rally after another, hit 10 of 11 free throws en route to a season-high 19 points.
Chase Griffin with 21 points and Marvin Lea with 19 led Pepperdine. Point guard Kingsley Costain scored 15 points with five 3s.
New Mexico won its holiday tournament for the fourth straight year and for the 30th time in the 42-year history of the holiday tournament.
Pepperdine led 36-23 with 6:06 left in the first half on a 3-pointer by Gregg Barlow. But that was the Waves’ final field goal for the next 6:03.
The Lobos used the Waves’ shooting troubles to put together the 19-0 run that started on a Giddens 3-pointer and ended with a Giddens dunk on a breakaway basket following a Pepperdine turnover.
New Mexico outscored Pepperdine 17-8 in the first 5:01 of the second half.
Pepperdine rebounded and cut a double-digit deficit to 89-86 on Griffin’s 3-pointer with 2:46 left, but could come no closer.
New Mexico was called for just 10 fouls, compared to 22 on Pepperdine and each team hit 13 3-pointers.