NEW MEXICO GAME NOTES | MOUNTAIN WEST RELEASE | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (14-8, 7-2 MW) travels to San Diego, California to face the San Diego Aztecs (17-6, 10-0 MW) Saturday at 1 p.m. PST, 2 p.m. MST, in a matchup of the Mountain West Conference’s top two teams.
The Lobos enter the weekend winners of four straight, including recent victories against Boise State on the road, 88-83, and UNLV at home, 87-83, on Tuesday. The Lobos dug deep for their win over UNLV, as all but seconds of the second half were contested in a one possession game. Tim Williams scored 29 points, his most as a Lobo, including 12 straight down the stretch.
The 87-point effort brought the Lobos’ MW point per game average to 80.7. That figure leads the MW and is the most the Lobos have averaged since joining the league. The Lobos also lead the league in conference play with a 50.4 percent field goal percentage and a 41 percent 3-point field goal percentage.
While the Lobos have been the league’s top offensive team in MW play, San Diego State has been the league’s best defensive team. The Aztecs have held league opponents to 59.4 points per game and 36.9 percent shooting. The Lobos are right behind the Aztecs in field goal percentage defense in second at 38.1 percent.
The Coaches:
Head coach Craig Neal has led the Lobos to seven wins in nine league games for the second time in his three-year career. He is the only coach in the century-plus history of Lobo Basketball to start conference 7-2 in two of his first three seasons. Overall, Neal has a record of 56-31 with a .644 winning percentage. Steve Fisher is in his 17th season as head coach at San Diego State. He holds a 356-191 record with the Aztecs and has guided them to six 25-win seasons in the last seven years.
The Series:
This will be the 81st matchup between New Mexico and San Diego State, with the series dating back to Jan. 2, 1976. The Lobos hold an all-time record of 44-36 against the Aztecs. The home team has had a big advantage in the series, as San Diego State is 24-12 against New Mexico in San Diego. Inside WisePies Arena, the Lobos have won 27 out of 37 games. The Lobos are looking for their first road victory against San Diego State since Feb. 15, 2012. The Aztecs have won the last three games played between the two in their facility.
Broadcast Information:
The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. The broadcast will begin at 1 p.m. PST, 2 p.m. MST. Fans can find CBSSN on Comcast channels 274/838 (HD), DISH channel 158 and DirecTV channel 221.
For fans tuning in on the radio, Robert Portnoy will give the play-by-play action alongside analyst and Lobo great Hunter Greene on 770 KKOB, the flagship station of the New Mexico Lobos. This feed will also be available via the TuneIn Radio App.