Postgame Notes - New Mexico vs. Northern Iowa (Dec. 23, 2010)

Dec. 23, 2010

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New Mexico vs. Northern Iowa – Postgame Notes
Thursday, December 23, 2010 – Las Vegas, Nev.

• New Mexico’s 8-game winning streak comes to an end with a 66-60 loss to Northern Iowa in the championship game of the Las Vegas Classic. UNM falls to 10-2.
• UNM scored its fewest points of the season…the Lobos came into the game averaging 77.8 points a game
• UNM trailed at halftime for only the second time this season…tonight’s 34-31 deficit is the largest of the season at intermission
• The Lobos trailed 32-19, but scored the final 9 points of the 1st half to cut the halftime deficit to 34-31…UNM outscored UNI 12-2 over the final 4:13 of the 1st half
• UNM also trailed 56-46 in the 2nd half but eventually trimmed the margin to 61-60 with a minute left
• New Mexico was 8 of 11 from the FT line tonight…the Lobos came into the game averaging 18 FTs made and 26 FT attempts
• The Lobos outrebounded UNI 33-28, which usually means victory…entering tonight’s game, UNM had been 34-2 in its last 36 games when outrebounding its opponent
• Senior Dairese Gary and freshman Kendall Williams were named to the Las Vegas Classic all-tournament team

Head coach Steve Alford

• Coached his 605th career game
• 394-211 in his 20-year coaching career
• 86-28 in his fourth season at New Mexico
• 30-23 in road and neutral games while at UNM
• 49-17 against non-conference opponents while at UNM

Senior G Dairese Gary

• 14 points, including UNM’s final 8 of the game, and he had 10 in the 2nd half
• Had a season-high 6 rebounds, but also a season-worst 6 turnovers
• Passed David Chiotti (2003-06) for 22nd place all-time at UNM with 1,149 career points; Gary is 11 points from moving into the 19th spot
• Made his 109th consecutive start tonight, which is the longest current streak in the nation

Junior F A.J. Hardeman

• A season-high 16 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out
• Set career-highs for FGs made (8) and FGs attempted (15)
• UNM is now 18-2 when he’s scored in double figures in his career
• Started his 47th consecutive game tonight

Freshman G Kendall Williams

• 11 points, making 3-4 shots from 3-point
• Shooting 60.6% (20-33) from 3-point this season, which leads the MWC
• 28 assists and 7 turnovers the past 4 games, 57 assists and 25 turnovers for the season