Jan. 2, 2008
Recap |
Final Stats |
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The Lobos edge UTEP 86-85 in overtime for their
season-high 6th straight win…New Mexico is 13-2 for only
the 2nd time in the past 9 seasons…the Lobos started 14-2
in 2004-05
UNM is 3-2 away from home and has won consecutive
non-conference road games for the first time since the
2004-05 season (at New Mexico State and at
Texas-Arlington)
The Lobos have won 3 road games in 2007-08, equaling
their entire total from the past two seasons when they
went 3-19…it’s the most road wins since going 5-5 in
2004-05
UTEP falls to 9-3 and had a 5-game winning streak
halted…the Miners lose at home for the first time in 7
games this season
The Lobos and Miners played their 10th overtime game in
the 139-game history of the series…the OT record between
the two schools is tied at 5-5, although UNM has won the
last 4
New Mexico had lost its past 4 overtime games away from
Albuquerque…the last win before tonight was 68-65 at New
Mexico State during the 2000-01 season
UNM is 12-0 this season when leading at halftime and
12-0 when out-rebounding its opponent…the Lobos led the
Miners 36-28 at the break and gathered 56 rebounds to
UTEP’s 45
The Lobos’ current 6-game winning streak began Dec. 8
when Chad Toppert and Roman Martinez were inserted into
the starting lineup…UNM is 6-0 with the starting quintet
of Martinez, Toppert, Daniel Faris, Dairese Gary and J.R.
Giddens
UNM trailed 8-0, but then scored the next 14 points for
a 14-8 advantage…senior J.R. Giddens scored 11 of the
Lobos’ first 14 points
New Mexico kept the lead until the second half when the
Miners went up 46-45…the Lobos trailed 62-57 late in
regulation, but outscored UTEP 7-2 over the last 3:53 to
force overtime…UNM led 82-72 in overtime before hanging on
at the end
UNM shot a season-low 36.1% (22-61), including 23.8%
(5-21) from 3-point…the Lobos made 8 of their first 16
shots from the floor, but finished the half making just 3
of their last 15 tries
UNM has shot just 24% (7-29) from 3-point the past 2
games
UTEP shot a season-low 33.3% (23-69) from the field,
21.2% (7-33) in the 1st half…the Miners’ previous
season-low was 41.3% (26-63) against New Mexico State on
Nov. 27 in El Paso
UNM held UTEP to a season-low-tying 28 points in the 1st
half…the Miners trailed UNLV 39-28
New Mexico limited UTEP junior guard Stefon Jackson to
17 points on 5-15 shooting, 7-8 FTs, and 1
rebound…Jackson, who scored 25 against the Lobos last
year, came into the game averaging 25.5 points and a
team-high 5 rebounds
The Lobos made their first 10 free throws and finished
the game by hitting 37-of-52 (71%)…that’s the most FTs
made and attempted since a 40-of-53 performance against
Utah on March 1, 2003
Senior J.R. Giddens
scored 20 points in 43 minutes, and set career-highs
with 19 rebounds and 7 assists
the 19 rebounds are the most by a Lobo since Lewis LaMar
had 22 against Fresno State on Feb. 26, 1994
recorded his 2nd straight double-double, 4th of the
season and 7th of his career
Freshman Dairese Gary
had a career-high 9 rebounds to go along with 10 points
and 4 assists
has 22 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists the past 2
games
Junior Daniel Faris
finished with 13 points for his 4th straight game
scoring in double figures
scored 6 points in overtime, including 4-of-4 from the
FT line
has averaged 13.5 points over the past 4 games
Junior Chad Toppert
had 14 points and 7 rebounds
set career-highs with 9 FTs made and 10 FTs attempted
converted 1 of 6 shots from 3-point, the 3rd straight
game he has failed to make at least 2 3s in a game
his season accuracy is 47.5% (38-80) while his career
percentage of 44.77% (137-306) is now 2nd-best in UNM
history…Troy DeVries is 1st at 44.95%
has 137 3-pointers in his career, 3 from moving into the
top-10 all-time at UNM
Reserves Darren Prentice and Jamaal Smith
combined to score 21 of their 23 points in the 2nd half
Smith scored all 10 of his after the break, Prentice 11
of 13, including a free throw with 4.7 seconds left that
would be the eventual difference in the 1-point
victory…Prentice scored 8 points in overtime