11-0 Lobos Host Air Force Saturday at 4 p.m.
New Mexico vs Air Force
Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 – 4 p.m. MT
Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit (Capacity: 15,411)
TV: STADIUM via Facebook
Radio: 770 KKOB-AM (Listen Live)
Promos:
Salute to Service Day: Saturday’s game against Air Force will mark UNM’s “Salute to Service” game which is set to include a special National Anthem performance as well as a swear-in ceremony at halftime.
In addition, first-responder vehicles will be on display prior to Saturday’s game including firetrucks, military vehicles and police cruisers!
UNM NOTES | AF NOTES | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Coming off of a 14-point victory over Mountain West opponent Fresno State on Tuesday, The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (14-3, 3-1 MW) is set to take on Air Force (8-8, 2-2 MW) on Saturday at 4 p.m. as the squad looks to remain undefeated inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit. UNM is currently 11-0 at home and would advance to 12-0 for the first time since 2005-06 with a win on Saturday.
New Mexico is 9-1 over its last 10 contests while Air Force is coming off of a big, 19-point win over Utah State on Tuesday. Utah State was picked to earn the league title in the Mountain West Preseason Poll while Air Force was predicted to finish eighth. Air Force is 4-2 in its last six contests.
The Lobos enter Saturday’s contest as the seventh-best shooting team in the nation, averaging 49.4 percent shooting from the floor. UNM is also one of just 16 teams to have accumulated 13 wins over NCAA Division I opponents.
The Lobos are led by four players averaging scoring in double figures on the season including redshirt-senior JaQuan Lyle (17.2), redshirt-senior Carlton Bragg Jr. (12.7), senior Corey Manigault (11.0) and junior Makuach Maluach (10.1). Bragg also leads UNM in rebounds with 10.6 per game.
The Falcons have three scorers averaging double digits including senior Ryan Swan (14.6), senior Lavelle Scottie (14.1) and sophomore A.J. Walker (12.1). Scottie is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.6 per game.
LOBOS IN THE NATION
Below is a look at how the Lobos rank in some of the national stats:
1st – free throws made (312)
1st – free throw attempts (431)
7th – field-goal percentage (49.4)
11th – total assists (279)
20th – win-lost percentage (82.4)
21st – scoring offense (80.4)
33rd – total rebounds (641)
36th – total steals (134)
Individuals:
16th – JaQuan Lyle – total minutes (595:25)
17th – Carlton Bragg Jr. – rebs./game (10.6)
21st – JaQuan Lyle – FT made (76)
24th – Carlton Bragg Jr. – def. rebs./game (7.21)
35th – Carlton Bragg Jr. – total rebs. (148)
SERIES HISTORY
New Mexico leads the series with the Falcons 60-23 including a 34-2 advantage in The Pit (34-4 in Albuquerque). Last time the teams met, the Lobos opened conference play on the road at USAFA with a 65-58 victory on Jan. 2, 2019.
UNM is 4-2 over Air Force in the teams’ last six meetings.
THE COACHES
Head coach Paul Weir is 47-36 in his third year at the helm of the Lobos, 75-42 in his fourth season as a head coach. Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich is 106-139 in his eighth season at the helm of the Falcons, the same in his career.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday’s game will be available to watch live on Facebook (click here). 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.