ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball team completed a three-game sweep of its opening homestand with a 94-69 victory Tuesday night over Little Rock at The Pit – Powered by Nusenda. Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year Jake Hall scored a career-high 39 points to lead the Lobos (3-0) to the win over the Trojans (0-3).
Hall’s 39 points were the most by a Lobo in a game since Donovan Dent scored 40 against VCU two seasons ago. His 92 points through the first three games of the season ties the UNM record for most points scored through three games, tying the mark Lamont Long set in 1998-99.
Hall was one of four Lobos to score in double figures on the night, as Uriah Tenette scored 17 points and Hudson Mayes and Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi each added 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Trojans scored on the game’s opening possession, the Lobos used a 13-0 run to take a 13-2 lead after six minutes of play. UNM held a 25-12 lead at the midway point of the half as Tenette scored 12 early points on 4-4 shooting behind the arc. The lead grew to 32-15 with 7:30 left before Little Rock closed to 33-25 with 5:15 left. The Lobos pushed the margin to 15 in the final minute before taking a 47-34 lead into the break. Hall had 16 first-half points to lead New Mexico.
In the second half, the Lobos pushed the margin to 52-35 over the first two minutes before taking a 62-42 lead with 14:00 to go. New Mexico held a 72-48 lead at the midway point of the half before the Trojans used a 6-0 run to close to 74-57 with 6:50 left. UNM answered with six straight to take a 80-57 lead with 5:15 to play. The lead was as many as 27 with 1:00 left before UNM closed out the 94-69 win.
LOBO NOTES
• The Lobos start the season by scoring at least 90 points in the first three games for the first time since 2019-20 (first four games)
• UNM started a season with three wins by at least a 25-point margin for the first time since the 2006-07 season
• UNM’s 16 3-pointers were its most against a Division I opponent since making 17 against Utah State in 2021-22
• Rytis Petraitis made his Lobo debut after missing the first two games due to injury, scoring three points and grabbing two rebounds in nine minutes
• AJ Pierre-Jerome made his Lobo debut, playing the final minute of the game
• When Little Rock scored the game’s opening basket, it marked the first time this season that UNM had trailed
• Eric Olen became the first UNM coach since Norm Ellenberger (1973, 1974) to start 3-0 in each of his first two seasons
QUOTABLE
“I thought we played well. It was good to take of business on this homestand to start the season. We have to keep getting better because the level is going up.” – Eric Olen
UP NEXT
The Lobos will open their road schedule on Saturday with a visit to WCC preseason favorite Santa Clara. Game time at the Leavey Center is 8 p.m. MT (7 p.m. PT) and the game will air on ESPN+ and KNML Radio.