New Mexico
Boise State shocks New Mexico for spot in MW title game
Courtesy of Braidon Nourse
Andrew Meadow’s five-point stretch felt like a landslide when it mattered most.
1-8 from 3 for the first 39:12?
Big whoop. Shooters shoot. It turned into ball game after some free throws. With a 72-69 win, No. 5 Boise State shocked No. 1 New Mexico and its aims for a title defense in Friday’s first semifinal of the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Basketball Championship.
Down a point with just 48 seconds to go, Meadow caught and shot a 3-ball from the left wing to take a two-point lead. After getting a stop, the Broncos went to Meadow again on a touchdown pass down the court on a backcourt baseline out of bounds. He caught it with no one in front of him and slammed it with two hands, just to be sure.
The four-point lead proved to be too much for the Lobos to come back from. Meadow finished with 16 points and five rebounds.
“That was huge. That’s what we tell these guys: ‘Every miss increases your odds on the next one when you’re a great shooter,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “We want them shooting with confidence. You’ve got to make those timely ones, and you have to have some players who can step up and do it. We’ve got some guys like that.”
For most of the game, the show-stealer was Broncos forward Emmanuel Ugbo. After starting forward O’Mar Stanley got into early foul trouble — and stayed in it any time he subbed in — Ugbo was called upon for the role. And he starred.
His 25 minutes, 17 points and three blocks were all career highs for the sophomore. Adding five rebounds, he became the first player in tournament history to record those numbers off the bench.
“I just want to thank my teammates and coaches for trusting me,” Ugbo said. They tell me to stay ready. They have seen what I can do in practices and games before. Today, I just let it rip. Like coach always says, be ready because you never know when your chance is going to come. Today was my chance and I took it.”
On the other end, particularly in the first half, the Broncos did well to limit New Mexico’s biggest stars, Nelly Junior Joseph and Donovan Dent.
They finished with 19 and 23 points, respectively, and Dent single handedly kept it a game in the dying moments, but both of them seemed visibly frustrated at times during the first frame.
“(Dent) is just one of the best point guards in the country. You can’t guard him with one guy,” Rice said. “You’ve got to guard him with a team and sometimes that’s not enough. He’s a heck of a player and he’s had a great career there.
“You love competing against guys like that and we love these kinds of games. That’s what you live for as players and coaches, to be in these kinds of games. Our guys are embracing that.”
The win sets up the Broncos second ever trip to the MW championship game, their previous appearance was a win against San Diego State in 2022, against the winner of No. 2 Colorado State and No. 3 Utah State.
Ask Rice, and his Broncos live for this moment. What led them to victory against the Lobos tells you why.
“It’s the ability to respond to adversity,” Rice said. “The ability to get up off the floor, take some punches, get back up, go to your corner and then come out punching again. We’ve got a lot of that to us.”
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man has taken a plea deal for his role in the death of a three-year-old girl more than two years ago. Police said that Kerri Santos brought her toddler to University of New Mexico Hospital, claiming that she fell and hurt herself. Medical staff determined the child was already dead when she arrived, and noticed signs of abuse, including evidence that she had been tied up. Police said that Santos and three others were staying at James Welch’s home when the abuse took place.
On Friday, Welch pleaded no contest to three counts of child abuse and tampering with evidence. He faces up to five years behind bars.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival returns to Balloon Fiesta Park this weekend.
Teppanyaki King is among the newer trucks on the menu.
General Manager said the Albuquerque food truck has been open for about six months and will make its second festival appearance this weekend.
Pacheco showed off several dishes and said one of the truck’s best sellers is “lobster and filet mignon.”
Pacheco said the team wanted to bring something different to Albuquerque because “there’s taco trucks everywhere, you know, and we wanted to bring something completely different to Albuquerque so people can experience restaurant-style cooking, but on the streets.”
He said the truck has about 7 to 10 pounds of filet mignon stocked ahead of the event and full refrigerators as the team prepares for the crowd.
Teppanyaki King also serves daily in Albuquerque near San Antonio and Louisiana, Pacheco said.
People can buy tickets online ahead of time, with a pre-sale discount available if they buy them before the event. Special VIP and beer lover packages are also available.
The festival is happening on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. VIP tickets can get in an hour earlier.
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