Lobos Down Northern New Mexico 78-46 in Non-Conference Finale
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team notched its 10th win of the season with a 78-46 victory over Northern New Mexico on Friday night at The Pit. The Lobos (10-14) used a strong second half to break open the game and defeat the Eagles (12-3 NAIA).
Jamal Mashburn, Jr. scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Lobos, while Jaelen House and Jay Allen-Tovar added 10 points each. Sebastian Forsling grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to lead UNM on the boards.
Northern New Mexico’s 46 points were the fewest allowed by the Lobos since an 83-43 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2016-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Northern New Mexico took an early 7-2 advantage, it held the lead until a 6-0 Lobo run put them ahead 14-11 at the under-12:00 timeout. A stretch of cold shooting by New Mexico allowed NNMC to retake the lead, 15-14, with 8:00 in the half. UNM went on a 10-0 run to take a 24-15 lead with 3:00 to play in the half before extending the lead to 32-22 at the break. Mashburn had 17 of the Lobos’ 32 first half points.
Jamal Mashburn, Jr. ends the half with an AND-1 #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/bOgympdYh7
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) February 12, 2022
In the second half, the Lobos opened on an 8-2 run over the first three minutes to extend the lead to 40-24. New Mexico continued the second half surge, highlighted by several dunks in transition by Allen-Tovar to take a 54-33 lead with 11:00 to go. The Lobos got strong performances from the bench down the stretch to push the final margin to 32 points.
The second-half Jay Allen-Tovar dunk show has continued!! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/kVluHeod3I
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) February 12, 2022
LOBO NOTES
• Jamal Mashburn, Jr. scored in double figures for the 23rd time in 24 games this season
• Mashburn had his 11th 20-point game of the season
• Jaelen House scored in double figures for the 16th time this season
• Jay Allen-Tovar scored in double figures for the ninth time this season
• Sebastian Forsling became the fifth Lobo to have a double-figure rebound game this season
• Jordan Arroyo scored his first points of the season
• Safi Fino-A-Laself made his Lobo debut and had three points and three rebounds
• UNM shot 100% (9-9) from the line, its first perfect FT game since the 2020 Mountain West Tournament vs. San Jose State (14-14)
QUOTABLE
“It was a good win and I am very appreciative of the fans who showed up as we threw this game together. We have won three-out-of-four. I think we were sleep-walking a little bit in the first half because we weren’t making shots. Some of that is we are coming off 91 points at Air Force, where we were making everything. The guys responded well in the second half. It was good to get some of these other guys some playing time. At the end of the day, it is a 32-point victory and we got something out of it.” – Head Coach Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos continue their homestand Tuesday as they host conference-leading Wyoming. Game time at The Pit is 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast online on Stadium.