Lobos Rally at Wyoming to Stay Unbeaten in Mountain West Play
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team posted its biggest second-half comeback in 12 seasons with a 61-53 victory Tuesday night at the Arena-Auditorium. The Lobos (13-3, 5-0 MW) erased a 14-point halftime deficit to the Cowboys (9-7, 2-3 MW) and secure their best-ever start to a Mountain West season at 5-0.
Donovan Dent had 22 points and six assists to lead New Mexico, while Filip Borovicanin had career-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Nelly Junior Joseph had his eighth double-double of the season, and third consecutive, with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, with the game remaining scoreless for the first two minutes before Wyoming used a 10-0 run to lead 10-2 after six minutes of action. The Cowboys led 16-4 just past the midway point of the half and led 22-10 with 4:45 left to play. The lead grew to as many as 14 in final minutes as the Cowboys took a 32-18 lead into the break. Borovicanin had seven points and eight rebounds in the first half.
In the second half, the Lobos went on a 17-1 run over the opening 6:15 to erase the deficit and take 35-33 lead. Wyoming answered with an 8-0 run to take a 41-35 lead with 11:30 to play and led 43-38 at the midway point. The Cowboys pushed the advantage to 45-38 with 9:15 to play before UNM cut the margin to 45-43 with 6:30 to play. The Lobos used a 10-0 run to take a 55-48 lead with 2:30 to play and held a 57-52 advantage with 1:00 left. UNM would close out the 61-53 win at the line over the final minute.
LOBO NOTES
• New Mexico’s 5-0 start to conference play is the third-best in program history, trailing only the perfect 12-0 record in the Border Conference in 1944-45 and a 10-0 start to WAC play in 1977-78
• The 14-point halftime deficit ties for the fourth-largest all-time in a Lobo victory and the largest since 2012-13 when UNM rallied from down 14 at the half in a win over Davidson
• It is the second-largest halftime comeback on the road and in a Mountain West game, eclipsed only by a 16-point comeback in the second half in 2007-08, also at Wyoming
• UNM’s 33.3 percent shooting from the floor was its lowest in a win since shooting 33.3% in a 69-54 win over Portland in 2012-13
• The Lobos’ 18 first half points were its fewest in a half since 2021
• UNM shot 18.5% (5-27) from the floor in the first half, the fourth worst FG% in a half in program history and worst since 2013 (at San Diego State)
QUOTABLE
“The biggest thing we did in the second half was pick up our intensity. It was such a low possession game, and when you only make five shots in the first half, it was really hard. We were ready to go to start the second half and we had to show them they couldn’t knock us out that early. We responded 43-21 in the second half, which was great. These are the types of games, especially on the road, that you just have to find a way to win, and we did that tonight.” – Richard Pitino
UP NEXT
The Lobos will return home to host San Diego State on Saturday. The game against the Aztecs will air on CBS and tip-off at 11:00 am. The game is a Stripe Out, so check the seat map to see whether to wear red or white.