The Lobos
remained
undefeated by out-performing and out-toughing NMSU as well as
out-rebounding an
Aggie team that was averaging more boards than UNM has been this
year.
“[I'm]
extremely pleased,”
said head coach Steve Alford. “I thought our energy was really
good. I thought
our concentration was outstanding. And we did the things that
we've been doing.
“We
out-rebounded a really
good team. We took care of the basketball and we got to the
free-throw line.
And that's what's we've been doing through this stretch. And for
them to
continue that after a week off is pleasing," said Alford.
New Mexico
(11-0) trailed
only after the opening tip, responding to Aggie Daniel Mullings’
opening jumper
with an 14-4 run capped by a thunderous dunk by Cameron Bairstow
that seemed to set
the tone for the rest of the game.
New Mexico St.
(5-5)
responded with a run of their own to cut the Lobo lead to 17-14
on a dunk by
Bandja Sy. But the Aggies would get no closer and trailed 39-32
at halftime.
In the second
half, UNM
steadily pushed the lead forward as the pace of the game became
herky-jerky due
to the Aggies’ disruptive defensive effort. But UNM matched
their defense in
the second frame, holding the Aggies to 26.7% shooting (8 of 30)
and a paltry 2
of 10 on three pointers while.
Overall New
Mexico out shot
NMSU from the field 42.6% (20 of 47) to 32.8% ( 19 of 58) and 7
of 13 (53.8%)
compared to the Aggies’ 4 of 16 (25%).
The Lobos got
double figure
scoring from four players – 15 points apiece from Alex Kirk and
Kendall Williams, 10 points from Tony Snell (who shot a team best 4 of 7
from the
field) and 13 points from Chad Adams, who added 10 rebounds (a
career high) for
his second double-double in the last four games.
Defensively UNM
did well,
pulling down 29 defensive rebounds, forcing eight turnovers and
getting a
season high 11 blocks – including four from guard Hugh Greenwood
and five from
Kirk.
"Our guys love
challenges,” said Alford. “I don't think we thought about having
11 blocks. I
just soon have maybe six blocks and six charges. Be that as it
may, 11 blocks
are lot of blocks in a game. And it came from a lot of people."
NMSU only had
one player in
double figures, Mullings who scored 14 points on 5 of 10
shooting. Tyrone
Watson led all players in rebounds with 11 and added four points
but went 0-5
shooting from the field.
The Lobos now
have just
three days to prepare before they play the Aggies again, this
time at the Pan
American Center in Las Cruces. Williams, who also had seven
assists and eight
rebounds of his own, said the team is guarded against a letdown
at NMSU
Wednesday.
"It's a rivalry
so
there's a lot of feel behind it, we hope they don't walk away
tonight thinking
they have a chance to compete with us wherever we play, but we
need to be able
to go there and create our own energy and feel,” said Williams.
“Every game is
important especially on the road."