Jan. 26, 2009
Lobo Basketball Notes – vs. Colorado State
New Mexico (12-8, 3-2 MWC) returns home Wednesday night to entertain Colorado State (7-13, 2-4 MWC). Tip-off is 7:35 p.m. Mountain Time from the The Pit/Bob King Court in Albuquerque. It’s a quick Pit stop for the Lobos as they play at Utah on Saturday afternoon.
Wednesday’s game will be televised live nationally by The mtn., which is channel 276 on Comcast cable in Albuquerque and channel 616 on DirecTV. James Bates and Dave Bollwinkel will call the game.
The Lobos play three of their next four games – and five of eight – in The Pit.
After splitting last week’s road trip with a loss at San Diego State and a victory at TCU, New Mexico is part of a Mountain West Conference logjam that has six teams carrying two losses apiece. TCU and UNLV are 4-2 while UNM, BYU, San Diego State and Utah are all 3-2.
New Mexico got program win No. 1,300 last Saturday with a convincing 69-52 decision at TCU, snapping the Horned Frogs nine-game home winning streak.
The Lobos shot 57.1% for the game – 70% (12-17) in the second half – which is the best for a UNM team in a road game in four years, since 57.8% (26-45) in a 77-66 win at UNLV on Feb. 19, 2005.
The 3-point accuracy of 77.8% (7-9) is the second-best single-game mark in school history. UNM made 81.8% (9-11) last year against Texas Tech.
The Lobos also shot 88% (14-16) from the FT line while limiting the Horned Frogs to 37% shooting and 14% (2-14) accuracy from beyond the arc. UNM had a 28-22 rebounding edge. About the only area of ineffectiveness for UNM was turnovers (17).
Junior Roman Martinez led four Lobos in double figures with 13 points (4-5 on 3s) and 11 rebounds for his third career double-double. He also had 3 assists, a steal, no turnovers and drew 2 charges in 34 minutes.
Colorado State’s seven wins equals its total from the entire 2007-08 season. Minus leading scorer Marcus Walker, the Rams fell 83-74 at Wyoming last Saturday. The Cowboys led by 16 points in the second half before CSU cut the lead to two late in the game.
The Rams are 1-7 away from home this season, 0-3 in MWC games. CSU’s has dropped 16 consecutive conference road games. The last win was Jan. 17, 2007, at TCU. Colorado State has won just 4 times in 40 trips to The Pit. The wins came in 1970, `71, `93 and 2007.
GAME SPONSORS
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, 94 Rock and Big I 107.9.
SEASON TICKET HOLDER UNUSED TICKET REDEMPTION POLICY
UNM season ticket holders can redeem any previously unused tickets for Wednesday’s home game against Colorado State and Wyoming on Feb. 3. Tickets must be redeemed no later than the day before the game. New tickets will be located in bench rows 1-10, based on availability.
THE NEW MEXICO-COLORADO STATE SERIES
It’s game No. 104 in a series that started Dec. 22, 1940. UNM has a 62-41 overall lead, 41-11 in Albuquerque and 36-4 in The Pit. The Lobos have won 3 in a row, 7 of 8, 9 of 11 and 23 of the past 26 games against CSU since Feb. 12, 1994. UNM has a 15-3 lead in MWC games and is 10-2 in its last 12 affairs against the Rams in Fort Collins.
Last year, the Lobos recorded their largest margin of victory over Colorado State in Albuquerque (91-51) and in Fort Collins (71-52). The positive results were due in part to UNM’s 3-point shooting (22-39, 56.4%), FG% defense (31-95, 32.6%) and turnover margin (13 to 33).
New Mexico was also able to put the clamps on guard Marcus Walker, who scored just 17 points in the two games. Walker came into each game leading the MWC in scoring at more than 17 ppg, but he was just 4 of 19 from the floor and 0-for-10 from 3-point in the two contests.
Chad Toppert had big games against the Rams last year, scoring a career-high 22 points in Albuquerque and 14 at Fort Collins. Toppert hit 9-of-14 3-pointers in the two games.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Colorado State returns three starters and seven letterwinners from last year’s team that finished 7-25 and 0-16 (9th) in the MWC. Head coach Tim Miles is 226-170 in his 14th season overall and 14-38 in his second year at Colorado State.
NOTES TO KNOW BEFORE THE GAME
In MWC games only, the Lobos lead the league in the following categories: FG pct. (48.2%), scoring defense (61.6 ppg), 3-pt. FG% (43.1%), scoring margin (+10.8), 3-pt FG% defense (27.8%), turnover margin (+3.2) and assist/TO ratio (1.25).
Senior Tony Danridge became the 25th member of New Mexico’s 1,000-point club when he scored 14 points last week at San Diego State…he has 1,017 points for his career to rank No. 22 on the all-time list…Ike Williams is No. 21 with 1,086
Danridge has already set personal season highs for rebounds (80), assists (52) and steals (26)
UNM head coach Steve Alford is 25-4 all-time in The Pit, 8-2 in MWC games
FG% defense has been a strength of UNM teams under Steve Alford…last year, New Mexico held opponents to 41.0%, the 4th-lowest by a Lobo team in the past 43 years…it’s even better this season at 39.5%, which currently ranks 3rd in the MWC…the last time New Mexico held the opposition to under 40% for an entire season was 1964-65 (36.7%)…opponents have shot just 40.5% (1,077-2,661) in 53 games against Alford’s Lobo teams
Opponents are shooting 29.2% (42-144) from 3-point the past 8 games
New Mexico was 2nd in the nation in 3-point percentage last year at 42%…accuracy is 38.7% this season, but the Lobos have made 46.7% (28-60) the past 4 games
The Lobos have won 27 straight games when allowing less than 60 points, and they are 48-2 in such games since 2004-05
Woeful from the FT line for most of the season, UNM has made 76.9% (103-134) of its FTs the past 5 games, increasing the season average to 68.2%…the number, however, is just 63.8% (46-72) in the last 3 minutes of games
A 3-pointer at San Diego State last week gave UNM a 3-ball in 600 consecutive games…that number is now 601…the last time the Lobos failed to connect was Jan. 3, 1991, going 0-8 against Colorado State
The Lobos are 3-4 in true road games this year, and 11-10 in head coach Steve Alford’s tenure at New Mexico…in the five seasons before Alford arrived, UNM had an 8-43 road record…UNM went 8-6 in 2007-08, tying a school record
Dating to last season, the Lobos are 5-2 in their last 7 MWC road games
Last year, UNM’s 8th loss did not come until the next-to-last game of the season – to Utah in the MWC Tournament
Of UNM’s 33 games in 2007-08, six were decided by 3 points or less, and it went 2-4…the 2008-09 squad has already equaled that total for nail-biters, recording a 4-2 mark
Three Lobos did not play basketball last season: senior Tony Danridge was out with a broken leg while freshmen Will Brown and A.J. Hardeman were tending to academics
UNM has the top-3 single-game assist totals in the MWC this year: 29 vs. Ole Miss, 26 vs. Southeast Missouri and 25 vs. Grambling
The Lobos are 38-2 in their last 40 non-conference home games
New Mexico had to rally from 12 or more points twice during a 4-game winning streak in December…UNM trailed Southern Miss 30-18, before prevailing 60-58…there was a 34-19 hole against Oral Roberts, but the Lobos rallied for a 66-63 victory
Senior Chad Toppert ranks No. 1 at UNM by making 45% of his career 3-point attempts…he is 3rd all-time at UNM and 5th in the MWC record book with 234 career 3s
It certainly looks like four true scholarship freshmen will letter for UNM in 2008-09: Will Brown, Nate Garth, A.J. Hardeman and Phillip McDonald…that has happened only one other time in the history of Lobo basketball: 1983-84 when five Lobos – Paul Connery, Hunter Greene, Larry Markland, Kelvin Scarborough and Mike Winters – all saw time…freshmen became eligible to play with the varsity in 1973-74
ALL 3 LOBO SENIORS TO GRADUATE IN MAY
All three New Mexico three seniors – Tony Danridge, Daniel Faris and Chad Toppert – will graduate in May with their bachelor’s degree. Danridge is majoring in University Studies, Faris in Mass Media/Communications and Toppert in Business. All three have participated in at least 109 games in their careers at New Mexico: Danridge (115), Toppert (113) and Faris (109).
UNM-COLORADO STATE LAST YEAR IN ALBUQUERQUE
Chad Toppert came off the bench to score a fistful of 3-pointers, leading New Mexico to a 91-51 win over Colorado State. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the Lobos dominated CSU with sharp shooting and relentless defense.
New Mexico had connected on 10 of 13 3-pointers midway through the second half and finished 12-for-20 overall. The Lobos shot 54.2 percent from the field for the game, while Colorado State hit just 17 of 50 attempts (34%).
Toppert led the Lobos with a career-high 22 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Six of his teammates contributed with at least one 3-pointer. J.R. Giddens added 19 points for the Lobos.
The Lobos opened with a 7-0 run, holding CSU scoreless for the first 3:16. New Mexico quickly extended the lead to 21-8 and led by double-digits for the rest of the game. By the break, the Lobos were ahead 50-24. Toppert hit two 3-pointers in the final 1:15 of the first half as part of a 16-4 run leading to the break.
New Mexico’s Dairese Gary opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers to spark a 15-0 surge that resulted in a 65-24 lead. The Rams didn’t find the basket until 6:25 had passed in the second half. Colorado State’s Marcus Walker came into the game leading the MWC in scoring at 18.6 ppg, and 23.6 in conference games. He finished with 11 points on 3 of 12 shooting, including 0 of 6 from 3-point.
UNM-COLORADO STATE LAST YEAR IN FORT COLLINS
Daniel Faris’ 15 points and eight boards helped New Mexico to a 71-52 rout of Colorado State. Faris collected his points and rebounds in just 22 very efficient minutes. Chad Toppert added 14 points and J.R. Giddens had 13 for the Lobos, who took a 39-30 halftime lead that was never threatened in the second half.
The Rams hung tough until the three-minute mark of the first half, when the Lobos went on a 9-0 run to take control at 35-27. Darren Prentice and Jonathan Willis sank back-to-back 3-pointers during the spurt.
The Lobos closed the half on a 13-3 run with the Rams’ only points coming from Stuart Creason. Creason, the Rams’ 7-foot center, was injured chasing down a loose ball 19 seconds into the second half and he sat on the end of the bench in warmups, watching as the Lobos ran away with it.
Rams guard Marcus Walker, the league’s leading scorer, finished with just six points, 11 below his average. Josh Simmons was the Rams’ leading scorer with 12 points despite making just one basket – he sank all 10 of his free throws.
POSTGAME NOTES FROM TCU
New Mexico dealt TCU is most lopsided loss of the season
UNM shot 57.1% from the floor, including 70.6% (12-17) in the 2nd half…it’s the Lobos’ 2nd-best shooting game of the season and best in a road game this year
UNM started the game making 8 of its first 10 field goals and started the 2nd half by making its first 5 attempts
The Lobos shot a season-high 78% (7-9) from 3-point while holding TCU to just 14% (2-14), a UNM opponent low this season
UNM snapped TCU’s 9-game home winning streak
TCU came into the game leading the MWC in FG percentage in conference games at 48.1%….UNM held the Horned Frogs to 37.5% (15-40)
UNM held TCU to its second-lowest point total, shooting percentage and 3-point shooting percentage of the season
Dating to last season, the Lobos are 5-2 in their last 7 MWC road games
Senior Tony Danridge
Scored 12 points to pass Ron Becker, Rob Loeffel and Ira Harge for No. 22 on the UNM career scoring list with 1,017 points
Junior Roman Martinez
Had 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, drew 2 charges and 0 turnovers in 34 minutes…it was his 3rd career double-double
UNM HEAD COACH Steve Alford
Steve Alford, 44, is in his second season in charge of Lobo hoops and his 18th year as a collegiate head coach. He was named UNM’s 19th head coach on March 23, 2007. Alford, who has never been an assistant coach is his career, has a 344-200 (63%) career record in his 18th season as a head coach, 36-17 at New Mexico. His teams have qualified for postseason play 12 times, produced 14 winning seasons and reached 21 wins on nine occasions.