LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team claimed an 80-77 victory at UNLV on Wednesday night inside Thomas & Mack Center, improving the Lobos’ record to 14-9 on the season and 7-4 in the Mountain West.
“We were able to make plays and spread the floor tonight,” said head coach Craig Neal. “I am was proud of our guys.”
Elijah Brown led the Lobos with 29 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and a season-high 5-of-9 from the three. He also went perfect from the foul line in eight attempts and brought down seven rebounds.
With Tim Williams and Dane Kuiper out due to injury, the Lobos had to have players step up and that happened. Obij Aget went off for his first double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Damien Jefferson had a season-high of 13 points and nine rebounds. He also led the team in assists with a season-high of four.
“The biggest thing is that he (Obij Aget) played really hard,” said Neal. “He was outstanding and played with great energy.”
The first half started off slow for both teams as the score was 4-3 UNLV going into the first media timeout. The Lobos pushed to a 21-19 lead over the Runnin’ Rebels after a two from Sam Logwood. The game was tied five times before the end of the half.
The Lobos went up by as much as three points after a Brown three. UNLV hit three-of-four free throws with 1:04 left in the half but the Lobos finished the half off with a Joe Furstinger three-point play, tying the game up 35-35.
New Mexico took control of the start of the second half, going on a 6-2 run. UNLV tied the game up 41-41 but another three from Brown gave the Lobos a 44-41 lead with 15:48 left in the game. UNLV would go up by as much as five points with 8:03 left in the game, but a Logwood two tied the game up for the 11th time, 59-59.
With 3:17 left to play, UNLV tied the game up for the 13th time at 66-66 but the Lobos took the lead for good after a Jefferson layup with 2:49 left in the game. Free throws were key for the Lobos the rest of the way as they made 4-of-5 in the final 27 seconds. UNLV brought the game within two after a three but Jordan Hunter hit 1-of-2 free throws to push the lead to 80-77.
“We did a nice job three and executed well,” said Neal.
New Mexico shot 48.3 percent (29-60) from the field, 46.7 percent (7-15) from the three and 75 percent (15-20) from the foul line. The Lobos outrebounded the Runnin’ Rebels 42-37.
Among the players off the bench, Logwood and Hunter both finished with eight points. Logwood also added five rebounds and was 4-fo-8 from the field.
The Lobos will return home to face San Jose State for the first and only time this season on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. MT and will air on ROOT Sports.