BOISE, Idaho — The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team endured a rough one on Wednesday night as it fell by a score of 89-52 in game two of the conference series against Boise State in Boise. Bronco and MW Preseason Player of the Year Derrick Alston, Jr. was one of two players to score 22 points against New Mexico en route to the win.
The Lobos (3-2, 0-2 MW) were outshot 33.3-60.0 from the floor and went just 11.1 percent from behind the arc, going 1-for-7 from deep. Boise State (6-1, 2-0 MW) went 11-for-22 (50 percent) from 3-point range.
Not only did Alston collect 22 points, but the redshirt-senior was unstoppable, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor including 3-for-3 from three and 1-for-1 from the stripe. The other scoring leader on the floor was Max Rice, son of Boise State head coach Leon Rice, who registered 22 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
The Lobos were led by three players with eight points apiece including senior Makuach Maluach, junior Saquan Singleton and sophomore Jeremiah Francis III. The game marked the fourth time in five games that Maluach has led UNM in scoring while Francis, who did not score against the Broncos in 26 minutes on Monday, registered a new UNM career high.
The Lobos kicked off the matchup with energy, getting out to a three-point lead, 5-2, on a 5-0 run that included a jumper and a free throw from redshirt-freshman Bayron Matos and a jumper by Francis. The home team tied it up, however, and took off on a 28-5 run that never let up.
The Broncos led 52-28 at the break going 6-for-11 from three compared to 0-for-2 from behind the arc for UNM. Boise State dominated in the paint 26-16 while forcing 11 Lobo turnovers, committing seven.
In the second half, Boise State continued to pile on the points and increase its lead however, a disciplined UNM posted just five fouls in the second half compared to 11 for the Broncos. UNM converted the fouls to seven points going 7-for-11 from the stripe.
The Lobos are scheduled to resume conference play on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, in a home contest hosted at Lubbock Christian University against Nevada. UNM will play the Wolf Pack on Dec. 31 on FS1 at 7 p.m. MT followed by Jan. 2 on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m.