Lobos Face No. 18/19 Auburn in Brooklyn Monday
(RV) New Mexico vs. #18/19 Auburn
Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 – 7:30 p.m. MT/9:30 p.m. ET
Barclays Center (Capacity: 17,732)
TV: ESPNews
Radio: 770 KKOB-AM (Listen Live)
UNM NOTES | AU NOTES | LIVE STATS (link coming soon)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team is set to take on No. 18/19 Auburn in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Monday night in the semifinal round of the 2019 Roman Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT (9:30 p.m. ET). Following the matchup, UNM will face either (RV) Wisconsin or Richmond on Tuesday in the championship or consolation game.
The Lobos (5-1) enter the week in Brooklyn having claimed a pair of home wins against Green Bay (93-78) and McNeese (90-80) in the opening rounds of the Legends Classic. UNM also enters the contest coming off of a rivalry road trip in which the Lobos suffered their first loss of the season at UTEP by three points before topping in-state rival NM State two days later in Las Cruces (78-77).
The week’s contest will end a two-week road trip in which UNM had just one day back in Albuquerque before turning around and heading to New York.
Auburn is a perfect 5-0 on the season and has faced one similar opponent to UNM in CSUN. The Tigers topped the Matadors 116-70 while UNM earned a similar 97-70 victory.
UNM remains led by five Lobos averaging in double figures including redshirt-senior JaQuan Lyle (19.8), senior Corey Manigault (12.3), redshirt-senior Carlton Bragg Jr. (11.8), junior Makuach Maluach (11.5) and redshirt-junior Zane Martin (10.0). Bragg also leads the Lobos in rebounding with 9.8 per game, nearly averaging a double-double on the first six games of the season.
The Tigers are led by three players averaging in double digits including senior Samir Doughty (18.8), freshman Isaac Okoro (14.4) and senior Danjel Purifoy (11.2). Doughty is second on the team in rebounds with 6.2 per game but the squad is led by senior Austin Wiley who posts 7.8.
LOBOS IN THE NATION
Through the first six games of the season, the Lobos are starting to emerge at the top of some of the national charts. Here is a look at some of the highlights:
3rd – free throws made (124)
5th – free throw attempts (170)
15th – field goal percentage (51.5)
19th – scoring offense (85.5)
24th – total assists (101)
35th – total steals (53)
Individuals:
15th – JaQuan Lyle – FT made (31)
22nd – Carlton Bragg Jr. – total rebs. (59)
24th – JaQuan Lyle – total points (119)
25th – JJ Caldwell – total steals (14)
31st – JJ Caldwell – total assists (32)
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos have met the Tigers just once in program history, on Dec. 22, 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The teams competed in the Diamond Head Classic where the Tigers earned an 83-78 win.
THE COACHES
Head coach Paul Weir is 38-34 in his third year at the helm of the Lobos, 66-40 in his fourth season as a head coach. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is 105-72 in his sixth season with the Tigers. He is 567-217 in his career (25th season).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Monday’s game will be available to watch live on ESPNews. Fans can also follow live via live stats or listen in on the radio LIVE. Robert Portnoy and former Lobo Hunter Greene will be on the call on 770 KKOB-AM.