ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team rallied from down 15 in the second half to defeat Alabama State 93-87 on Wednesday night at The Pit. The Lobos (5-2) used runs of 14-0 and 14-1 over the final 10 minutes to down the Hornets (3-5).
Jake Hall led New Mexico with 24 points, 21 coming in the second half, as he tied the UNM freshman record with seven 3-pointers. Deyton Albury had 18 points and a season-high five assists, while Antonio Chol added 12 points and Uriah Tenette had 11 points off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama State used an early 8-0 run to take a 8-2 lead over the first four minutes of action. The lead grew to 18-8 with 13:45 left in the half, but the Lobos used a 10-0 run to take the lead, 21-20, at the midway point of the half. The Hornets took a 30-23 lead with 7:30 to go with a 7-0 run and held a 44-31 lead with 3:10 left in the half. Alabama State took a 51-38 lead into halftime as Albury had nine first-half points to lead UNM.
In the second half, the Hornets pushed the lead to 60-45 with 16:45 left to play. The Lobos used a 6-0 run to cut the margin to 70-64 with 11:25 left in the game. After ASU led 75-64 at the midway point, a 14-0 run game UNM a 78-75 lead with 7:25 to play. The Hornets used an 8-0 run to take an 83-78 lead with 4:40 left to play, but the Lobos answered with a 14-1 run to take a 92-84 lead 0:30 left. UNM would close out the 93-87 win over the final half minute.
LOBO NOTES
• The 15-point comeback was UNM’s largest since rallying from 16 down against Wyoming in the 2019 Mountain West Tournament
• UNM trailed by 15 with 16:25 to play, marking the second-latest 15-point comeback in program history (trailed Boise State 76-61 with 6:00 to play before winning 80-78 on Feb. 17, 2016)
• The 13-point halftime deficit T-7th largest overcome by UNM in program history and largest since rallying from down 14 at the half last season at Wyoming
• Jake Hall tied the UNM freshman record of seven 3-pointers, set by Kevin Henry against Holy Cross on Dec. 29, 1997
• Hall’s performance was just the sixth 24-point game by a UNM freshman in the past 20 years (joining JT Toppin [twice], Makuach Maluach, Cullen Neal and Alex Kirk)
• Hall’s 21 second-half points were most by a Lobo in a half since Donovan Dent had 25 in the second half of his 40-point game last year vs. VCU
• UNM’s 55 second-half points were the most against a Division I opponent since scoring 61 in the second half last year against Texas Southern
• Alabama State’s 51 first-half points were the most allowed by UNM since 52 at Boise State on Dec. 23, 2020
• UNM won its 15th straight game at The Pit, tying the longest home win streak since a 15-game streak spanning the end of the 2018-19 season and the start of the 2019-20 season
• The crowd of 12,027 was a season-high for UNM at The Pit
QUOTABLE
“I thought we struggled in the first half and played a lot better in the second half. Our lack of ball security in the first half allowed them some things in transition. We have to improve as a group, both players and coaches. When we share the ball and move the ball, it’s going to land on Jake a lot and he made some big shots for us tonight. I think the crowd and the building deserve a lot of credit tonight. I don’t know if we get the result without our fans tonight and we definitely felt them in the second half.” – Eric Olen
UP NEXT
The Lobos’ will continue the homestand on Monday (Dec. 1) with a matchup with New Mexico Highlands. Tickets are on sale at GoLobos.com/tickets.