Open Announce

House’s Career Night Lift Lobos to 91-77 Win at Air Force

by Steve Kirkland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team captured its first Mountain West road win with a 91-77 victory over Air Force on Saturday night at Clune Arena. The Lobos (9-14, 2-8) used a career night from Jaelen House to down the Falcons (10-11, 3-7), who surrendered a season-high 91 points in the game.

House had career highs of 42 points and eight rebounds to lead UNM, posting the 15th 40-point game in school history. His 42 points were the most by a Lobo since Kendall Williams scored 46 in a win at Colorado State in 2013. His 15 field goals were most in a game by a Lobo since J.R. Giddens made 15 against Wyoming in 2008.

Jamal Mashburn, Jr. had 20 points, for his 10th 20-point game this season, and Jay Allen-Tovar added 10 points and nine rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
New Mexico scored on its first four possessions to take an early 8-0 lead before taking a 19-2 advantage with 13:30 left in the half. The Falcons closed the margin to 19-9 with 11:00 to play in the half before the Lobos pushed the lead to 26-11 with 9:00 in the half. The Falcons closed to within eight at 36-28 with 3:00 to go, but the Lobos took a 43-30 lead into the break as House’s half-court shot beat the buzzer. House had 14 first-half points to lead New Mexico.

In the second half, Air Force went on an early 9-2 run to cut the lead to 47-39 with 16:45 to play. The Falcons cut the advantage to 51-48 with 13:30 to play before the Lobos answered with an 8-0 run to push the lead to 59-48 with 12:00 to play. The Lobos used a 9-0 run to take a 68-51 lead with 8:45 to go and led 78-57 with 6:00 to play. The Falcons used a 7-0 run to cut the advantage to 83-70 with 2:59 to play and trailed by 10 with 1:18 to go. That was as close as they would get as the Lobos closed out the 91-77 win.


LOBO NOTES

• Jaelen House scored in double figures for the 15th time this season
• House had his sixth 20-point game of the season and his third 30-point game
• Jamal Mashburn, Jr. scored in double figures for the 22nd time in 23 games this season
• Mashburn had his 10th 20-point game of the season
• Jay Allen-Tovar scored in double figures for the eighth time this season
• KJ Jenkins made his first career start
• New Mexico’s 43 first-half points were the most allowed in the first half by Air Force this season

QUOTABLE
“It was great to win on the road and thanks to the fans that traveled here to support us. They make this program special. We had a moment there in the second half where we were terrific offensively. House scored 42 points and Mashburn was making some plays. We need to learn how to play with a lead, which we aren’t used to, but any road win right now is great for our guys.” – Head Coach Richard Pitino

UP NEXT
The Lobos will return home for a three-game homestand, beginning Friday with a newly scheduled game against Northern New Mexico. Game time at The Pit is 7 p.m. and the game will air on the Mountain West Network and the Lobo Radio Network. Ticket holders should just the San Diego State tickets and parking passes (dated Jan. 15) for the Northern New Mexico game.