Toby Roybal

The first and only Lobo to have his basketball jersey (No. 44) officially retired, Toby Roybal was a scoring machine from Santa Fe. Roybal’s 45-point effort against Montana on Jan. 11, 1956, stood atop the UNM record book for 21 years.

The 6-foot-2 senior guard scored 26 points in the first half to pace UNM to a 51-37 margin. With 10 minutes remaining, he eclipsed the Carlisle Gym scoring record of 38 points. Following a layup for his 45th and final point, Roybal fouled out with 2:30 remaining. The 2,500 fans on hand gave him a two-minute standing ovation.

The amazing feat came on the heels of a 37-point performance four nights earlier against Wyoming, and one night before he scored 30 against Montana; that’s 112 points in three consecutive games.

Said legendary Utah head coach Jack Gardner of Roybal, “He’s as talented a player as any we have faced since I’ve been coaching at Utah.”

Roybal was drafted by the New York Knicks following graduation in 1956, however, he nixed the offer and turned to teaching Physical Education and coaching basketball at a Santa Fe junior high school.

Roybal died of cancer in 1962 at the age of 30.