Lobos Rally for 67-64 Win over USF at Jack Jones Hoopfest
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team rallied in the second half to top San Francisco 67-64 on Monday night in the Jack Jones Hoopfest at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay to remain undefeated. The Lobos (10-0) trailed for most of the second half, closing the game on an 8-0 run to finally take the lead from the Dons (8-3) with 1:46 to play.
Jamal Mashburn, Jr. scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to spark the comeback, as the Lobos trailed by as many as 12 in the first half. Jaelen House added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Morris Udeze had his double-figure game streak snapped at nine, but he nearly had a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lobos got off to a strong offensive start, making 5-of-8 from the floor to take a 10-6 lead after the opening five minutes. A 11-0 USF run gave the Dons a 17-10 advantage with 11:35 to go. UNM cut the advantage to 17-15 at the midway point of the half, but the Dons continued to lead for the rest of the half. An 8-0 Don run extended the edge to 12 at 38-26 with 2:05 in the half, but the Lobos scored the final five points of the half to make the margin 38-31. It was the first time this season UNM trailed at the half.
In the second half, the Lobos got within three early before USF extended the advantage to 48-39 with 15:20 to play. UNM answered with five straight points to cut the lead to 48-44 with 12:15 left before USF held a 51-48 lead at the midway point of the half. A 5-0 Lobo run made it 54-53 Dons with 7:00 to go, but USF continued to hold off UNM and lead. A Mashburn jumper in the lane gave UNM its first lead of the second half at 65-64 with 1:45 to play and his layup made the Lobo advantage three at 67-64 with 0:40 to play. After USF missed a pair of free throws and the Lobos had a turnover, the Dons’ two 3-point attempts to tie in the waning seconds missed as the Lobos secured the victory.
FIRST SECOND HALF LEAD FOR THE LOBOS!! #GoLobos
WATCH: https://t.co/DphS4KJlVi pic.twitter.com/Fe3sZ2P8LA
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) December 13, 2022
LOBO NOTES
• UNM improved to 10-0 for the first time since 2012-13
• New Mexico is one of the final seven unbeaten teams in the nation
• It marked the second time the Lobos rallied from double digits to win this season (trailed 11 in the first half at Saint Mary’s)
• The win marked the first time the Lobos won when trailing the final two minutes of a game since the 66-64 victory over Utah State at The Pit in 2020
• The win snapped UNM’s eight-game losing streak in Las Vegas
• The Lobos had the same starting lineup for the 10th straight game to open the season
• Mashburn scored in double figures for the 31st consecutive game, the longest active streak in the Mountain West
QUOTABLE
“USF is good. They are tough and physical. We needed to find a way to get stops and rebounds. They shoot a lot of threes, but we came back by getting rebounds and loose balls. Those are the ones we weren’t getting in the first half. Got a big stop at the end and Mash made some big shots down the stretch. We got better as the game went on. We played our best basketball in the last four minutes of the game. We were not sharp. We were not crisp. Towards the end, when fatigue is a factor, you just have to find a way to get a win. One or two big plays and one or two big stops and we are fortunate to be 10-0.” – Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos return home to begin a three-game homestand on Sunday when they host Iona, coached by Richard Pitino’s father, Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Game time at The Pit is 4:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on FS1.