ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team saw its 23-game home win streak snapped with an 86-66 loss to Utah State on Wednesday night at The Pit. The Aggies (19-3, 10-2 MW) used a strong second half to hand the Lobos (18-5, 9-3 MW) their first home loss of the season.
Tomislav Buljan led New Mexico with 17 points and seven rebounds. Tajavis Miller scored 11 points, while Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette each added 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded baskets early with the game tied 5-5 after four minutes of action. Utah State took a 16-10 lead just before the midway point in the half before extending the margin to 22-14 with 8:15 left. UNM used a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 22-21 with 6:50 left and tied the game at 29-29 with 3:00 to go. The Lobos retook the lead, 33-31, with 1:50 left before the Aggies took a 36-33 lead into halftime. Hall had nine first-half points to lead UNM.
In the second half, the Aggies pushed their advantage to 49-38 over the opening four minutes of play. Utah State used a 12-2 run to push the margin to 64-44 at the midway point of the half. UNM answered with an 8-2 run to cut the margin to 14 with 7:25 left but that would be as close as the Lobos would get as USU closed out the 20-point win.
LOBO NOTES
• New Mexico’s 23-game home win streak was snapped, ending as the third-longest streak in program history
• The 20-point loss was UNM’s largest at home since an 85-57 loss to No. 4 San Diego State in 2020
• New Mexico went 3-13 from deep, tying a season low for made threes and setting a season-low for 3-point attempts
• The three freshmen (Hall, Buljan, Tenette) all scored in double figures for the fifth straight game after doing so just once in the first 18 games
• Hall scored in double figures for the ninth straight game, the fourth-longest streak by a UNM freshman
QUOTABLE
“It was a disappointing result. I thought the crowd was awesome and I wish we had been at their level tonight. I thought we got outplayed and outcoached in every phase. It was not the result we wanted, but we have to respond with another good team coming in here on Saturday.” – Eric Olen
UP NEXT
The Lobos will conclude the homestand on Saturday with a matchup against Boise State (13-9, 5-6 MW). Game time is 8 p.m. and the game will air on CBS Sports Network. Tickets are on sale now at GoLobos.com/tickets.