No. 22 Lobos Remain Unbeaten with 76-75 Win at Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The No. 22 New Mexico men’s basketball team battled back from down double-digits to post a 76-75 win at Wyoming on Saturday afternoon at the Arena-Auditorium. The Lobos (14-0, 2-0 MW) remained unbeaten on the season, while the Cowboys fell to 5-9 (0-2 MW).
Jamal Mashburn, Jr. scored a game-high 20 points, including the go-ahead free throws in the final minute, to lead New Mexico. Josiah Allick had his first double-double of the season, scoring 15 points to go with a career-high 15 rebounds. Jaelen House had 16 points, five assists, five steals and three blocks, while KJ Jenkins added 14 points off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wyoming opened the game strong, using an early 12-2 run to take a 15-5 lead after six minutes of action. The Cowboy lead would grow to as many as 11 before UNM cut the advantage to 18-12 with 11:00 left in the half. After Wyoming pushed the lead back to 10, the Lobos cut it to four at 24-20 with 5:15 to play. A 7-0 Lobo run cut the deficit to 28-27 with 1:30 in the half before Allick’s corner triple gave UNM its first lead at 32-31 in the final minute. A Wyoming basket at the buzzer gave the Cowboys a 33-32 lead at the break, just the second time this season the Lobos trailed at the half. Jenkins had 11 first half points to lead UNM.
In the second half, the teams traded the lead over the first four minutes. An 8-0 Lobo run made the score 49-44 UNM with 13:30 to play before the Cowboys drew even with five quick points. UNM led 55-53 at the midway point of the half and the game was tied 62-62 at the under-8:00 media timeout. The teams traded baskets and the game was tied 70-70 with 4:00 to play. Wyoming took a 74-72 lead with 2:00 to play before House made both ends of a 1-in-1 to tie the game with 1:20 to go. Wyoming led 75-74 with 32 seconds left before Mashburn was fouled with 17.7 to go. He made both to give UNM a 76-75 lead. The Lobos got a defensive stop and Allick was fouled after grabbing the rebound with 1.9 left. He missed both free throws, the second on purpose, and the Cowboys got the rebound and called timeout with 1.5 seconds to go. Wyoming’s full-court heave at the buzzer was off and the Lobos sealed the victory.
13 points and 12 rebounds for Josiah Allick, who has his first double-double of the season! #GoLobos
Watch on @FS1 pic.twitter.com/jqwSDukNOh— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) December 31, 2022
LOBO NOTES
• UNM improved to 14-0 for the second time in program history (started 17-0 in 1967-68)
• New Mexico is one of the final two unbeaten teams in the nation
• UNM has already eclipsed its win total from last season (13)
• The Lobos had the same starting lineup for the 14th straight game to open the season
• Allick’s 15 rebounds were the most by a Lobo since 2019 when Carlton Bragg had 17 rebounds against New Mexico State
• Mashburn scored in double figures for the 35th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the Mountain West
QUOTABLE
“We just had to stay the course. In the first half, I thought we were a little out of it. I think when you saw all their injuries, we needed to understand that they were still going to fight. We had to find a way. They all can’t be beautiful. Sometimes you need to go on the road and make one more play than them. Mash makes big free throws and Josiah gets a big rebound. I’m really proud of our guys to be sitting at 14-0.” – Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos conclude the two-game road trip on Tuesday with visit to Fresno State. Game time at the SaveMart Center is 9 p.m. MT (8 p.m. PT) and the game will air on CBS Sports Network.