Nov. 22, 2009
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What/Where: World Vision Classic — The Pit
Saturday: Lobos 81, La Tech 52
Sunday: 2 p.m., Nicholls State vs. La. Tech; 6:04 p.m., Lobos vs. Miami-Ohio
Lobos On The Air: My50-TV; 770-AM KKOB
Online: GameTracker, game story on GoLobos.com
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
To put the beauty, the totality, of the Lobos 81-52 romp over Louisiana Tech into perspective, you first have to understand something about La-Tech. This is a wall-to-wall talented team.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they just ran into a wall-to-wall talented Lobos team Saturday night in The Pit that also stresses some of those fundamental, Steve-Alford-type things like defense, rebounding, and unselfish team play.
The dissection of La-Tech was a second-half exhibition in how little things can add up to a big victory, especially when those little things are coming out of extremely talented bodies.
Let’s start with Darington Hobson, the transfer that came to New Mexico billed as a potential highlight reel of all-around talent. Saturday night Hobson was, well, a highlight reel.
In 27 minutes of play, he poured in 30 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. He went 9-of-18 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the line. His 3-point stroke looked even more effortless than his free tosses.
“He’s very, very talented,” said Alford of his 6-foot-7 junior. “I thought he was terrific. I thought he was everywhere tonight and that was a big-time performance.”
Hobson wasn’t alone in looking good. Phillip McDonald threw in 16 points and Nate Garth came off the bench to look more like the Nate Garth of last season by kicking in 11 points and three assists. A.J. Hardeman had 11 rebounds and Roman Martinez had 6 boards, 4 assists and a steal. Freshman Jamal Fenton had an impressive stat line of 9 points, 3 assists and 5 steals.
“The little fellow (Fenton) is doing some amazing things,” said Alford. “I thought in the second half our defense was awfully good, but it was kind of spurred on by what he was doing.”
5-9 Jamal Fenton |
The end result suggests that this game was a roll from the beginning. It wasn’t. The Bulldogs went up 18-14 and 27-23 before Hobson scored seven straight Lobo points to hand UNM a 33-28 halftime lead.
The second half was no contest. “We got on a roll,” said Alford, who saw his Lobos go to 4-0 in the young season.
The Lobos outscored La-Tech 48-24 in the second 20 minutes and outrebounded the Bulldogs 25-11. The Lobos shot 64.3 percent in the second half, 46.9 percent for the game, and held the Bulldogs to 29.7 percent for 40 minutes.
“We were very, very nervous about this game after watching this team on tape,” said Alford. “They are very athletic. They can shoot the basketball. They are big time on the glass. We really took a big step forward tonight on the defensive end.”
Alford said defense was an emphasis in practice after returning from Las Cruces. The Lobos beat the Aggies by ten, but a defensive lapse allowed the Aggies to claw out of a deficit and into the lead.
“What has really improved since Las Cruces has been what we’re doing defensively,” said Alford. “That’s been an emphasis and that’s going to be a key for us all year.”
“The focus (vs. La-Tech) was when we got up 10, how quickly can we get that to 15 or 20 and get the game over with?”
The answer Saturday was, “about seven minutes.” UNM got up 42-32 at the 16:18 mark and were up 55-40 at the 9:41 mark. It was 60-40 at the 8:34 mark.
A turnover by Garth at 5:56 let the Bulldogs cut the gap to 64-50, but a jumper by Hobson and a trey by Hobson made it 69-50 with 4:43 to go.
The Bulldogs had three players in double figures: Jamel Guyton with 11, Kyle Gibson with 11 and Olu Ashaolu with 10.
Both teams shot the ball 64 times with UNM making 30 and La-Tech making 19. The crowd was announced at 11,311.
The Lobos advance to play Miami (Ohio) and Alford says he is challenging his team to play even better defense on Sunday. “That’s mental toughness,” said Alford.
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