Lobos Lose in Last Second Against Nevada
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A last-second offensive rebound and putback by Nevada tied the game at 82 and with a foul called on the play, the Wolf Pack made the free throw to win 83-82.
The Lobos had a season-high five players finish in double figures, led by 21 points from Paula Reus and 17 points from Viané Cumber, with the duo combining for 10 of UNM’s season-high 13 three-pointers in the game. Aniyah Augmon finished with 15 points, including a layup with 4.7 seconds remaining that gave the Lobos an 82-80 lead, with the junior guard finishing with a double-double with a game-high 10 assists. Nyah Wilson and Lara Langermann each scored 10 points with Wilson adding four assists, three steals and six rebounds.
New Mexico started off the game on an 8-2 run behind three-pointers by Reus and Cumber and a Reus layup, with the lead building to double digits at 14 behind a 15-5 run that turned a 14-7 lead into a 26-12 lead near the two minute mark of the quarter. A three-pointer by Cumber closed the quarter with the Lobos in front 31-14, going 7-11 from behind the arc and shooting 61.1% from the floor.
Reus nearly outscored Nevada with 13 points on 4-5 shooting that included 3-4 from three and 2-2 fro the line, with Cumber adding 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three-point range.
UNM’s lead reached its highest point of the game on a Wilson layup with 7:13 left in the second quarter that put UNM 39-20, however, the Wolf Pack closed within three at 44-41 on a three-pointer with 1:59 remaining. New Mexico responded with a Wilson fast-break layup and a Langermann three-pointer to stretch the margin back to right at 49-41 with 37 seconds on the clock, and after a Nevada layup, a Langermann floater as time expired closed the scoring with the Lobos taking a 51-43 lead into the break.
The Lobos built the lead back up to double digits in the third quarter at 60-46 on a 6-0 run, but again, Nevada answered with a run to close the margin to one at 63-62. A Reus three kept the Lobos in front, and after a Nevada layup, an Augmon layup restored the four-point lead. Nevada closed with two free throws to end the third quarter with the Lobos holding a 68-66 lead.
There were five ties and five lead changes in the final quarter of play, with Nevada scoring the first four points of the quarter to take a 70-68 lead. Two Augmon free throws evened the score at 70, but the Wolf Pack used a 5-0 run to pull ahead 75-70. The Lobos answered with a 7-0 run of their own on a Hulda Joaquim steal and fast-break layup and a Cumber three-pointer that tied the game and a Reus jumper with 3:44 to play gave UNM back the lead.
Another 5-0 run by Nevada, followed by a Langermann three-pointer provided another tie at 80 with 2:15, with neither team able to gain the advantage until an Augmon layup with four seconds remaining. Following a Nevada timeout to advance the ball, a missed three-point attempt led to an offensive board and putback with a foul being called on the play.
Following Saturday’s result, the Lobos are 20-10 on the season, 11-6 in the Mountain West with one W game remaining on the road at Fresno State. As it stands now, the Lobos are tied with Wyoming for second with UNM holding the head-to-head advantage, and Boise State one game back at 10-7.