Jan. 1, 2007
The New Mexico Lobos were part of history today in Lubbock, Texas. It’s just not the part they wanted. Trailing by 20 points in the first half, UNM rallied to take the lead after halftime, but it could not make a big play down the stretch as the Red Raiders nipped New Mexico 70-68. In the process, Bob Knight won his 880th career game to pass former North Carolina head coach Dean Smith as the winningest coach in the history of NCAA Div. I men’s basketball.
The Lobos drop to 11-4 as they complete the non-conference portion of their schedule. UNM opens Mountain West Conference play Wednesday at TCU. Texas Tech improves to 11-4.
Trailing 33-13 in the first period today at United Spirit Arena, New Mexico was tantalizingly close to equaling the greatest comeback in school history. It was on Jan. 15, 1993, when the Lobos fell behind Hawai’i 31-11 only to rally for a 61-58 victory in Honolulu.
New Mexico trailed Texas Tech 48-35 early in the second half before the long-range guns found their targets. Sophomore sharp-shooter Chad Toppert nailed three straight 3-pointers and junior Jeffrey Henfield completed a 12-2 burst to hand the Lobos their first lead of the day at 56-55. Henfield finished with a season-high 12 points.
The Lobos’ lead grew to four points on three occasions, the last time 64-60 following a nice baseline move by J.R. Giddens with 6:25 remaining. UNM, however, would score only four points the rest of the game.
Texas Tech countered with a 3, but Tony Danridge slammed home a dunk on a nice feed from Jamaal Smith and it was 66-63 UNM with 5:51 to go.
The Red Raiders scored the next two baskets for a 67-66 advantage and their first lead since it was 55-53. Meanwhile, the Lobos had four consecutive trips that resulted in two turnovers and four missed shots.
An off-balance lay-in by Danridge put UNM back on top at 68-67, but Texas Tech went back ahead 70-68 on a 3-pointer by Jay Jackson with 2:04 left. That was all the scoring, but the drama was far from over.
Giddens missed a 3-point attempt on a set play out of a timeout with 43 seconds remaining. Texas Tech then worked down the shot clock and missed a shot with five ticks to go. Giddens got the rebound, dribbled up the court and launched a 35-footer that would have won it for the Lobos, but it hit the back of the rim.
New Mexico got just two points on its last eight possessions, missing seven of eight shots in the final five minutes.
Danridge led UNM with 17 points. Giddens added 14, but was 2 of 10 from 3-point and committed four turnovers.
Miraculously, the Lobos stayed in the game despite going 0 of 5 from the free-throw line while Texas Tech was 18 of 24. UNM was 10 of 29 attempts from 3-point.