Jan. 15, 2007
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New Mexico seeks its first true road win of the season when it visits San Diego State Wednesday. Tipoff is 8:35 p.m. Mountain Time from Cox Arena in San Diego. The game will be televised live on The mtn., Channel 276 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque.
The Lobos (12-7, 1-3 MWC), 7-7 following a 5-0 start, snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday with an 86-82 overtime win over Utah.
UNM is 1-6 away from Albuquerque this season, but 0-5 in true road games. New Mexico’s last win on an opponent’s home floor was a year ago at TCU. The Lobos have lost six straight in other team’s arenas.
The defending conference champs and preseason favorites to win the MWC again this year, San Diego State is 12-5 overall and 1-2 in conference after taking down Colorado State 81-76 last Saturday at Cox Arena. The Aztecs’ MWC losses were to Wyoming (66-65) and at BYU (80-58). SDSU is 8-2 at home this season.
Wednesday’s game could be a high-scoring affair. The Lobos continue to lead the MWC in scoring offense at 78.1 points a game, however, they are next to last in the league in scoring defense at 71.9 ppg and four MWC foes have shot 51% against them. UNM has allowed an average of 81.7 points over the past 14 games.
San Diego State averages 75.9 points. but yields 70.7 points. New Mexico is among the nation’s leaders in 3-point baskets at 9.6 a game.
It would not be wise for the Lobos to enter into a free-throw shooting contest with the Aztecs. SDSU is shooting 73.3% from the line with three starters – Mohammed Abukar, Brandon Heath and Kyle Spain – ranking in the MWC’s top-12 at better than 78%. Conversley, UNM is at a mediocre 66.8%, but an ugly 57.9% in four conference games.
Heath and Lobo junior J.R. Giddens rank 2-3 in the league in scoring at 19.5 and 18.3 points a game, respectively. Abukar averages 16.4 ppg, good for 6th in the MWC.
NEXT STUDENT TICKET PICK-UP IS WEDNESDAY
Students can pick up their free tickets this Wednesday for the BYU (Jan. 24), Wyoming (Jan. 30) and Air Force (Feb. 10) games.
Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts ticket window outside of Popejoy Hall Wednesday from 7:30-11 a.m. After that time, tickets can be picked up at the UNM Bookstore or the Lobo Ticket Office at The Pit.
SLIPPERY LEADS
New Mexico has watched a pair of second-half, double-digit leads go by the wayside the past two games. The Lobos led at nationally-ranked Air Force 37-16 in the first half and 41-24 early in the second period only to have the Falcons embark on a monstrous 28-1 blast. UNM lost 65-57.
Last Saturday against Utah, New Mexico led 40-25 right after halftime, but the Utes rallied to eventually tie the game. UNM squeaked out an 86-82 overtime win.
Earlier this season, the Lobos held a 44-28 advantage over rival New Mexico State only to have the Aggies trim it to one with 21 seconds remaining. UNM hung on to win 79-76.
LOBOS ON TV
New Mexico will have 13 regular-season conference games televised live this year, including the last 12. That equals the most since UNM joined the Mountain West Conference in 1999-2000. A total of 10 games were shown live last year, 11 in 2004-05, eight in 2003-04 and 10 in 2002-03. The last time for 13 was 2000-01 and 2001-02.
REDEEM THOSE UNUSED TICKETS
A reminder that Lobo season ticketholders may redeem any unused tickets from the 2006-07 season for upcoming games against Wyoming (Jan. 30) or San Diego State (Feb. 20). This offer if valid only to season ticketholders. Tickets must be redeemd at the ticket office at The Pit during normal business hours.
NEW MEXICO-SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES
UNM has a 35-23 lead in a series that started Jan. 2, 1976. San Diego State swept the season series last year for the first time since 2002. The Aztecs won 75-69 at Cox Arena and 73-66 in The Pit, which clinched the MWC regular-season title.
Brandon Heath hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 32 points in last year’s win in Albuquerque.
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.
MORE ON THE AZTECS
San Diego State was 24-9 a year ago and won the MWC regular-season and postseason tournament titles. The Aztecs lost to Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City. Four starters return from last year’s team, including MWC Player of the Year Brandon Heath.
Steve Fisher is 301-913 in his 16th year as a head coach, including a national championship at Michigan in 1989. Fisher is 117-111 in his 8th season with the Aztecs.
UTAH REVIEW AND NOTES
J.R. Giddens scored 26 points and had a career-high 13 rebounds and reserve Chad Toppert hit four free throws in the final 27 seconds of overtime to give the Lobos an 86-82 win over Utah. New Mexico snapped a four-game losing streak and handed the Utes their sixth straight loss.
Utah had a chance to win it in regulation but three off-balance shots in the final 13 seconds missed badly. Guard Johnnie Bryant, who missed the first of those three shots, led the Utes with 19 points. Shaun Green scored 14, all in the second half, including four 3-pointers.
Giddens, who has been hobbled by a sprained left ankle and had missed the last two games, hit 9 of 18 shots. His baseline driving lay-up with 2:44 left in overtime put New Mexico ahead for good (77-75). He hit just 6 of 13 free throws, but three of them came in the overtime.
New Mexico hit 9 3-pointers in the first half and led 40-25 after center Aaron Johnson hit a free throw and a lay-up in the first minute and a half of the second half. But the Utes, who have lost eight games this season by six points for less, used a 10-2 run to cut the New Mexico lead to 57-54 with 8:09 left. Freshman 7-2 center David Foster scored five points, Stephen Weigh hit three free throws and Curtis Eatmon scored off a steal in that stretch.
An Eatmon 3-point play in the final minute of regulation tied it at 73.
Giddens came up short on a jumper with 22 seconds left and Tony Danridge missed on a 16-footer. Utah called timeout, and Bryant drove into the lane. He was cut off and had to put off an off-balance shot that missed. Foster got the rebound and missed and the Utes got off a third shot that didn’t come close at the buzzer.
The Lobos have won 4 of the past 5 games against the Utes, including 5 in a row in Albuquerque…Lobo head coach Ritchie McKay is 5-0 against Utah in The Pit
New Mexico played its first overtime game since defeating New Mexico State 71-68 on Dec. 13, 2005
It was the 4th overtime game between New Mexico and Utah, and it’s now tied at 2-2…UNM still trails 1-2 in OT games in Albuquerque…Utah won in the Pit in 1995 and in 1981…the Lobos won in Salt Lake City in 1984
The Lobos made 9 of 13 3s in the 1st half (69%), but were just 4 of 8 from inside the arc (50%…during one stretch in the 1st half, eight straight FGs by UNM were 3-pointers, and those were by 5 different players…UNM was just 2 of 8 from 3-point in the 2nd half to finish 11 of 21 for 52.4%…New Mexico has made 74 treys the past 7 games, or 10.6 a game
J.R. Giddens returned to the starting lineup after a 2-game absence due to injury (foot)…tied a career-high with 26 points and he pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds…it is his 3rd career double-double and 2nd of the season…Giddens attempted a career-high 13 FTs, but made just 6…he also had 3 assists with 0 turnovers
Tony Danridge finished with 14 points and had a career-high 6 assists in a career-high 41 minutes…he was 2-2 on 3-pointers, tying a career-best for 3s made…he had 2 against Charleston Southern on Dec. 19…Danridge is 12 of 23 from 3-point the past 16 games after starting his career 1 of 12
Daniel Faris scored 10 points, all in the 2nd half, including 8 straight for UNM during one stretch…it’s his best output since getting 11 points against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 16
Chad Toppert scored 13 points off the bench on 3-6 3s and 4-4 FTs in the final 26 seconds…he has averaged 10.5 points the past 12 games
Aaron Johnson grabbed 9 rebounds and matched a season-high with 5 offensive boards