Open Announce

Lobos Open Homestand Wednesday Against Louisiana Tech

by Steve Kirkland

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M – The New Mexico men’s basketball team opens a three-game homestand on Wednesday night as it hosts Louisiana Tech at The Pit. Game time is 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and on the Lobo Radio Network.

Tickets for the game are on sale now at GoLobos.com/tickets. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. (90 minutes prior to tipoff for all UNM men’s basketball home games this season). Fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid lines while going through the security procedures upon entry to The Pit, and due to the construction on I-25 at the Avenida Cesar Chavez exit that has caused increased travel times in the area. With new traffic flow patterns in place, fans are encouraged to click here for a map detailing the best route to take for an efficient arrival to their designated parking lot.

The game is the Lobos’ Salute to Service Night, with free tickets available at the ticket office for service members by showing their military ID. Family of those service members will receive a discounted price for their tickets. The game will also be a SAAC canned food drive game with donations accepted at the northeast and southwest entrances. Those who donate will receive a voucher for discounted tickets to the game.

The Lobos are 5-1 this season and are riding a four-game win streak after capturing the title at the Ball Dawgs Classic last week with wins over Toledo, Rice and Pepperdine in Las Vegas. Donovan Dent leads the Lobos in scoring at 18.5 points per game and ranks eight nationally at 6.8 assists per game. JT Toppin is the two-time reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Week and ranks fourth nationally with a 73.5 field goal percentage.

Louisiana Tech is also 5-1 this season and has won five straight since a loss at Colorado State on opening night. Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year Isaiah Crawford leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 14.2 points per game, while Texas Tech transfer Daniel Botcho is averaging 14.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

It will be the second all-time meeting between New Mexico and Louisiana Tech, with the Lobos winning both of the previous matchups at The Pit. The teams last met in 2009-10, a 81-52 New Mexico victory.

The Lobos’ three-game homestand continues Saturday with the first of two matchups this season with New Mexico State. Game time at The Pit is 7 p.m. The homestand concludes on Dec. 6 when UNM host UC Santa Barbara. Tickets are on sale at GoLobos.com/tickets.