New Mexico Edged by Arizona State 85-82 in Acrisure Classic
PALM DESERT, Calif. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team dropped its opening game of the Acrisure Classic, falling 85-82 to Arizona State on Thursday night at Acrisure Arena. The Sun Devils (6-1) used a late charge to hold off the Lobos (5-2) and advance to the tournament’s championship game.
Donovan Dent led New Mexico with 30 points and seven assists, recording his second career 30-point game. Mustapha Amzil added a career-high 28 points, while CJ Noland scored 13 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sun Devils used an early 8-0 run to take an 10-4 lead with 15:10 left in the half. The ASU lead grew to 17-9 after seven minutes of action before the margin was 24-16 at the midway point. Arizona State led 31-18 with 5:40 left in the half. The Lobos closed the half on a 16-1 run to take a 37-34 lead into half time. Amzil (17 points) and Dent (13 points) combined for 30 of New Mexico’s 37 first half points.
In the second half, the Lobos continued their surge, going on a 5-0 run to open the half to hold a 42-34 lead after two minutes. New Mexico held a 49-40 lead with 15:15 to go before holding a 60-51 margin at the midway point of the half. Arizona State used a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 60-58 with 9:00 left and tied the game, 62-62, with 7:50 left. The game was tied at 70-70 with 4:30 to play and at 72-72 with 3:00 to go. The Lobos took a 75-74 lead with 2:25 left, but the Sun Devils hit back-to-back threes to lead 80-75 with one minute to play. Amzil’s triple with 4.5 seconds left cut the margin to 83-82, but the Sun Devils hit a pair of free throws with 3.5 left to make the margin three and Amzil’s half-court shot at the buzzer to tie missed.
LOBO NOTES
• Dent and Amzil’s combined 58 points were the most by Lobo teammates since Feb. 5, 2022 (62 combined by Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn, Jr. at Air Force)
• Dent remains the only player in the nation to have at least 10 points and five assists in every game this season
• Arizona State’s 10 turnovers are a season low for a UNM opponent
• The Lobos fall to 0-4 all-time on Thanksgiving
• New Mexico’s six-game win streak in November tournaments was snapped
QUOTABLE
“Our hands weren’t active enough in the first half until we were able to make that run. In the second half, we just couldn’t get that crucial stop down the stretch. Arizona State is a really talented team. They have a McDonald’s All-American and some key guys back. We went toe-to-toe with them. I’m disappointed with the result, but I am proud of the fact that we are taking on a Big 12 team and are right there. We just have to execute for 40 minutes.” – Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos will play USC in the consolation game of the Acrisure Classic on Friday. Game time is 10 pm MT (9 pm PT) and the game will air on TruTV. Saint Mary’s defeated USC 71-36 in Thursday’s other semifinal.