Lobos Post 88-63 Victory Over Western New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team capped a three-game homestand with a 88-63 victory over Western New Mexico Monday night at The Pit. The Lobos (4-1) had five players score in double figures as they remained unbeaten at home this season.
KJ Jenkins scored a season-high 20 points to lead New Mexico while Jamal Mashburn, Jr. added 19 points. Jay Allen-Tovar scored 14 points while Javonte Johnson and Gethro Muscadin each scored 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Western New Mexico opened the game by taking a 5-0 lead, the Lobos answered by going on a 20-0 run to take a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. The Mustangs cut the lead to 10 points before UNM ended the half on a 14-6 run to take a 45-27 advantage into halftime. Mashburn had 15 points and Jenkins scored 13 points to lead the Lobos in the first half.
In the second half, after WNMU cut the advantage to 15 points, a 11-0 Lobo run pushed the lead to 60-34 with 11:15 to play. The Lobos pushed the lead to as many as 33 points before closing out the 25-point victory.
What a way to start the half!#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/6lDeWXWx8U
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) November 23, 2021
LOBO NOTES
• Mashburn has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, dating back to last season at Minnesota
• Muscadin has scored in double figures in four games this season, all four wins
• Jenkins scored in double figures for the second consecutive game, third time this season
• Johnson scored in double figures for the third time this season
• Allen-Tovar scored in double figures for the second time this season
• Birima Seck set career-highs of 10 rebounds and four blocks
• Clay Patterson scored a career-high five points
• The Lobos have had a different starting five in all five games this season
• Jeremiah Francis III made his first start of the season and scored his first points of the season (six) and a career-high seven assists
• Jaelen House, the Lobos’ leading scorer (19.5 ppg), missed the game due to injury
QUOTABLE
“I thought we substantially grew as a basketball team leading up to, and then in the Montana State game. We got tough and fought together to find a win. I understand that Western New Mexico is a Division II team, but there is no reason why we should take a step back. We need to keep moving forward and we have a great opportunity in front of us. We were down quite a few guys, important guys, but it was a good opportunity for those other guys to play. A game like tonight is an opportunity for those guys to show us what you got.” – Head Coach Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos travel to Las Vegas for the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, held Nov. 25-26 at the Orleans Arena. New Mexico plays UAB in the semifinals on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. MT and the game will air on FS1. San Francisco and Towson meet in the other semifinal with the winners playing in the championship on Friday (9:30 MT on FS1) and the losers playing in the consolation game on Friday (7:00 MT on FS2).