Lobos Host Lamar Tuesday to Open Regular Season
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— It is officially basketball season in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Lobos open the 2021-22 season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Lamar Cardinals, the first of two home games on the week.
The first 500 fans through the doors will receive pom poms, and for those who are unable to attend, Tuesday’s game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network, with live stats available.
UNM had a good showing in its first outing of the season, an exhibition win over Western Colorado, and finished the exhibition portion of its schedule against Eastern New Mexico, achieving its purpose of competing against another team in preparation for when the games count on the records like on Tuesday.
The Lobos had balanced scoring in their first two appearances of the season with four double-digit scorers in both games, three of which made the list in both games.
Four Lobos finished in double figures against WCU with LaTora Duff and Shaiquel McGruder tallying 16 points, Jaedyn De La Cerda 13, and a perfect 4-for-4 outing from three-point range for freshman Vianè Cumber for 12 points. McGruder was one rebound shy of a double-double, while also accounting for two of UNM’s five blocks in the game.
In the second exhibition against Eastern New Mexico, De La Cerda led all scorers with 21 points, followed by 15 from fellow senior Antonia Anderson, 14 from LaTora Duff, and Cumber again reached double figures in scoring, hitting three, three-pointers and a layup for 11 points.
Entering the 2021-22 season, UNM brings back its leading scorers in Jaedyn De La Cerda, LaTascya Duff, Anderson and Shaiquel McGruder and their top rebounders in Anderson, McGruder and De La Cerda. In addition, the Lobos return their leader in assists in LaTora Duff and McGruder, who led in blocks and steals.
Last year, the Lobos led the Mountain West conference in scoring margin (11.2), assist/turnover ratio (1.38), assists per game (16.07) and turnover margin (3.71), and finished second in offense at 77.8 points per game in conference games. Further, the Lobos were first in three-point field-goals made at 10.1 per game and second in field-goal percentage (.450).
Nationally, the Lobos finished with the fourth-best three-point field goals per game (10.2), sixth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NCAA at 1.40 as well as the ninth-best scoring offense, 14th in turnovers per game (12.0), 22nd in scoring margin (12.7) and 31st in turnover margin (4.25).
On the other side of the court, Lamar is coming off its lone exhibition on Saturday, a win against Jarvis Christian College in which six of eight players finished in double figures. The Cardinals outscored Jarvis Christian 17-8 and 29-5 in the first two quarters, respectively, eventually winning 95-47.
Last season, the Cardinals went 10-14, 9-6 in the Southland Conference, and were led by returners Wilson (12.0 ppg) and Bebe Galloway (6.8 rebounds per game). Wilson was second on the team in rebounds with 6.5 per game and Galloway and Wilson were the top-two blockers at 14 and 13 blocks, respectively. Lamar did lose its assist and steals leader in Jadyn Pimentel.
Lamar averaged 61.8 points per game in the 2020-21 season while allowing 67.5 points per game.
In its first year in the WAC, Lamar was picked to finish seventh in the media poll and eighth in the coaches’ poll, while Wilson was named to the first team on both Western Athletic Conference Coaches’ and Media Preseason All-WAC teams.
Season tickets are still available for purchase, starting as low as $110, as well as single-game tickets and three different mini plans to chose from.
Fans can purchase tickets online at GoLobos.com/tickets or in person at the University Arena Ticket Office.