ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (7-6) finished the 2015 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic with a loss to the Washington State Cougars (8-4), 82-59, at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Junior forward Tim Williams was the team’s leading scorer at 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting. He also logged a block and two steals. Elijah Brown scored 15 points and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Jordan Hunter came off the bench to earn several career-highs with 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting over 28 minutes. Sam Logwood had a team-high three assists along with six points and four rebounds.
The Cougars jumped out to a 9-4 lead early, as the Lobos struggled offensively out of the gate. Washington State led by as much as 14 points with 4:57 remaining in the first half at 35-21. Over a near-four minute span, the Lobos went on a 13-3 run, scoring all of their field goals in the paint. With a minute left, Washington State called a time out, and scored the final five points of the half to take a 43-34 lead into the break.
Washington State opened up the second half with a free throw and a fast break layup to go back up 12. The Lobos made a push to erase the deficit, ripping off a 10-0 run, to come within two points of the Cougars are 46-44. It was as close as the Lobos would get, as New Mexico went the next three minutes without a field goal.
Washington State led by double digits again at the 11:57 mark. They continued to build their lead from there, going up 73-53 with 3:28 left. The Cougars led by as much as 25 points in the final three minutes and finished up 23.
Overall, the Lobos shot an even 40 percent (20-for-50) from the floor and 19-for-24 from the free throw line. Washington State shot 54.2 percent (32-for-59) from the floor and 55 percent (11-for-20) from 3-point range.
Xavier Adams scored four points off the bench, pulled down three boards and secured two steals. Joe Furstinger and Nikola Scekic each scored two points.
The Lobos will return to WisePies Arena and begin Mountain West Conference play on Dec. 30 against Nevada.
(12/25/2015) MBB vs. Washington State
Lobos Finish Diamond Head Classic with Loss to Washington State
