New Mexico to Meet Marquette in Cleveland in NCAA First Round
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team is headed to Cleveland for the opening weekend of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Lobos, who earned an at-large selection after winning the Mountain West regular season title, are the No. 10 seed in the South Region and will play No. 7 seed Marquette in a first round game on Friday at Rocket Arena.
Game times and TV network designations for the first round will be announced later this evening.
The Lobos (26-7) enter the NCAA Tournament after matching their win total from last season and winning their first regular season title in 12 years. New Mexico is led by Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent and fellow first-team all-conference selection Nelly Junior Joseph, while Tru Washington was an honorable mention selection. Richard Pitino was the honored as the Mountain West Coach of the Year.
New Mexico is making its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance, and second consecutive appearance. The Lobos have eight all-time tournament victories, the last coming in 2012 when they defeated Long Beach State in the round of 64 before falling to Louisville.
Marquette (23-10) went 13-7 in the Big East this season and is coming off a 79-63 loss to St. John’s in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament.
The Lobos and Golden Eagles have met once before, a 75-68 UNM victory in 2013-14 in Las Vegas.