Men’s basketball: Lobos dominate Western New Mexico

The College of New Mexico males’s basketball group defeated the Western New Mexico College Mustangs 102-63 on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The Lobos improved to an 8-0 file and are one in every of ten undefeated groups within the nation.

There have been 5 Lobos with double digit scoring, and all 12 Lobos who performed scored within the recreation. This included Mac Manzanares and Safi Fino-A-Laself who every scored their first factors as a member of the Lobos.

Morris Udeze led the group in scoring with 18 factors, and Josiah Allick grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. Off of the bench, Birima Seck had a profession evening, scoring 11 factors and getting eight rebounds in simply 11 minutes of play.

Udeze scored the primary 3 factors for the Lobos, making one in every of his free throws after which dunking on his defender. The Lobos gave up two early 3-pointers however then went on a 12-0 run that was ended with a layup off of a turnover by Dane Quest. The Lobos have been up 19-8 on the media timeout with 11:44 left within the first half.

Out of the timeout, Jaelen Home handed to Udeze within the submit, and he was fouled on his profitable layup and made his free throw. That sequence was a part of a 13-0 run that put the Lobos up 38-12. On the finish of the primary half, UNM was up 49-20.

By the tip of the half, all the starters have been out of the sport and the bench unit performed the final two minutes.

The starters have been again in to begin the second half; Udeze scored the primary factors of the half on a layup, and Jamal Mashburn Jr. adopted it up with a mid-range jumpshot. Whereas up by practically 30 factors, the Lobo protection began to chill out and the Mustangs went on an 8-2 run; they have been nonetheless down 60-35.

Mustang Joshuwan Johnson hit a 3-pointer and WNMU began a full-court press. The Lobos have been up 64-38 on the media timeout with 12:00 left within the recreation. The Mustangs had some momentum, however the Lobo lead would show an excessive amount of to beat.

Braden Appelhans made a soar shot, and Donovan Dent adopted it up with a steal on the Mustangs inbound and made a straightforward layup. The Lobos began dominating once more, forcing turnovers and scoring practically each possession. The Lobos have been up 95-53 with 3:28 left within the recreation.

With all of the starters on the bench, the Lobos gained 102-63.

After the sport, Appelhans talked in regards to the group’s mentality getting into and the way he performed prolonged minutes.

“Deal with it like we’re taking part in St. Mary’s once more: simply preserve your foot on the fuel and do not let up … It was nice, taking part in in entrance of the followers. I will keep in mind that eternally. It was a good time,” Appelhans stated.

In his press convention, head coach Richard Pitino stated he informed his group to make use of this recreation as an opportunity to get higher and was grateful for the followers in attendance.

“I informed our guys we have been going lighter in follow, use this as a bonus at the moment as a chance to get higher. So 8-0, we’re enthusiastic about it. The gang: I’ve stated time and again, there aren’t too many locations that get 8,000 (followers) on a Tuesday for a division 2 group,” Pitino stated.

The Lobos subsequent play in opposition to College of Texas, San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 10 at The Pit.

Thomas Bulger is the sports activities editor for the Day by day Lobo. He could be contacted at sports activities@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @thomasbulger10