First Half Too Much, Lobos Fall at UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Despite being outscored by just four points in the second half, the first-half deficit was too much on Tuesday night as The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team ultimately fell to UNLV by a final score of 74-58.
The loss comes after the Lobos claimed a 30-point victory over Wyoming on Saturday afternoon and marks the second time this season that the Runnin’ Rebels have topped UNM immediately after a big win. The first was after UNM topped nationally-ranked Nevada by 27 points on Jan. 5.
With the loss, the Lobos slip to 9-10, 3-4 MW, while UNLV improves to 11-7, 5-1 in conference play.
Redshirt-sophomore Vance Jackson led the Lobos in scoring for the fourth time this season with 16 points while adding eight rebounds, three steals and an assist. Redshirt-sophomore Keith McGee and redshirt-junior Carlton Bragg each posted 12 points while Bragg registered his first double-double of the season adding 12 rebounds. Bragg also posted a trio of dunks.
Senior Anthony Mathis was held to just eight points on the night. The last time Mathis was held to single digits was on Jan. 8 against UNLV. The two games mark the only two in the last 12 games that the senior standout has been held below 10 points.
On the night, UNM was outshot 43.9 percent (25-58) to 35.5 percent (22-62) from the field and 56.0 percent (14-25) to 26.1 percent (6-23) from 3-point range. The Lobos did, however, outrebound the Runnin’ Rebels 42-41. Prior to Tuesday night’s game, UNM boasted a record of 6-0 when outrebounding its opponent.
The Lobo defense started the contest on fire, allowing just five points through the first 8:30 while getting out to a six-point lead, 11-5.
At the 8:59 mark, a three from UNLV’s Nick Blair put the home team up by two, 16-14 before a layup from Jackson gave the teams the first tie at 16-16. The squads tied again at 17 and 18 before UNLV took off on a 9-0 run on three straight 3-pointers, including two by Noah Robotham, to make it 27-18 Runnin’ Rebels with 5:44 on the clock.
UNLV increased the run to 19-4 to take its largest lead of the first half, 15 points, at 37-22 with 1:26 left. Both teams registered a layup before McGee made a buzzer-beating three to make it a 12-point game at the break, 39-27.
Just 16 seconds into the second half, UNLV’s Kris Clyburn hit a three to re-energize the Runnin’ Rebel offense. Clyburn, who hit 25 points in the Lobos’ last meeting with the Runnin’ Rebels, was held to 14 points.
Trailing by 15 with 18:18 left, the Lobos went on a 7-0 run that included a pair of Bragg dunks and a Mathis three to cut the deficit to eight and get the Lobo fans going.
The teams kept it close over the next minute until a 5-0 UNLV run put the difference back to double figures at 13, 51-38 with 12:48 to play.
UNM cut it back to single digits just once more at the 9:35 mark on a Jackson three, 54-45, but Clyburn responded with a three of his own to make it a 12-point game and the Runnin’ Rebels never looked back.
McGee finished the second half like he did the first, with a three in the final seconds, for the 74-58 final.
Fifty-eight points marks the least the Lobos have scored this season against any opponent. On the night, UNLV converted UNM’s 14 turnovers into 23 points while the Lobos scored just two off of 11. UNM led in second-chance points (18-11), and in the paint (24-22) while the Runnin’ Rebel bench outscored the Lobos’ 31-22.
UNM led for 11:18 of the contest while UNLV led for 27:18.
The Lobos are set to return to action at home on Saturday as they host Utah State at 2 p.m. inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.