Photo by Joe Grimando
Albuquerque, NM–The New Mexico Lobos opened conference play against visiting San Jose State on Saturday night. Riding a six-game winning streak, along with one of the longest home winning streaks in the nation (tied for 5th) at eighteen straight Ws inside the Pit.
Conference clashes are never to be taken lightly, as Lobo fans know from tough losses in the past. So a San Jose State team with four double-digit scorers & a household name like Tim Miles at the helm should get 100% of the Lobos attention. Even with starters Tomislav Buljan & Chris Howell sitting this one out with injury.
The offense took it’s time to warm up, but seven-footer JT Rock, earning his first start of the season opened things with a three pointer at the top of the key.
He then received the rock down low, with a shot attempt that took him to the free throw line, where he went 1 of 2. After a few Spartan turnovers on the other end, Jake Hall deicded to show off his euro step in the lane for a two pointer off of the glass to put the Lobos up 6-0 on San Jose State.
Jermaine Washington finally let fans take a seat with a corner three to get the Spartans on the board. After an air ball by Rock on the other end, Spartan leading scorer Colby Garland drained another three on the other end right over the extended 7-1 Rock.
As San Jose State began to find their rhythm, JaVaughn Hannah, another key transfer for Tim Miles, who’s missed nearly all of the season with injury knocked down another triple. Giving the Spartans their first lead of the game at 9-7 around the fifteen minute mark.
Back the other way, Luke Haupt made the most of a missed Uriah Tenette three pointer, cleaning the glass for an offensive board and put back. Tying things up at nine a piece.
As Deyton Albury initiated another fast break, he was fouled on an acrobatic layup attempt that got the Pit crowd involved as many suspected a goaltend by Yaphet Moundi. He went to the line and drained both of his free throw attempts, giving New Mexico back the lead at 11-9.
After a highly contested three point attempt by the Spartans, freshman Melvin Bell got a second chance field goal of his own to tie things back up at 11-11.
Albury began to create some offense with a beautiful dime to Milos Vicentic down low to regain the lead, 13-11. The floor general then took things into his own hands with a steal in the half-court & another fast break layup to extend the lead to 15-11.
But that was short lived as San Jose State’s hot three-point shooting was on full display when former walk-on Pasha Goodarzi drained the Spartans fourth three of the game.
Vicentic continued to make the most of his minutes with another basket down low right before a media timeout, putting the Lobos up 17-14 with 10:58 left in the first-half.
After a missed hall three pointer, as everyone else was ball watching, 5-11 freshman Tenette jumped in the air for the offensive board and took the ball up for a contested two pointer that resulted in a three point play.
Goodarzi showed the Lobos he needs to be taken seriously with his second contested three pointer of the game at the top corner to bring the Spartans to within three (20-17) just under ten minutes of play.
After a pair of missed three-pointers on each side, Garland elevated for a mid-range jumper to bring the visitors to within one, 20-19.
On the other end Tenette drove the ball straight to the basket, showing off his best Albury impression. Not drawing the foul but absorbing some contact mid-air to knock down the layup to extend the Lobo lead, 22-19.
Mandi continued to showcase his speed as the Spartans’ big man, running the court on a fast break attempt which saw Haupt reach in and send him to the charity stripe. He went 0-2, but the Lobos were able to capitalize on the other end with a Milos Vicentic three pointer, New Mexico’s second all game.
Garland continued to dig into his scoring bag with a tough runner in the paint for San Jose State. That momentum was matched on the other end with Antonio Chol’s first made field goal of the game, a triple at the top of the key. Extending the New Mexico lead 28-21 with just about five minutes left to go in the half.
Garland stayed hot, answering with his own three pointer on the other end. San Jose State simply wouldn’t go away, as ugly plays and turnovers were simply forgotten & three pointers soon followed.
Vicentic began reminding folks why he was a Division-II All-American with his second three pointer of the night followed by a one handed hook shot. Breaking the seal as the first Lobo with double figures on the night.
Garland continued to attack the Lobo defense, heading to the line for two more free throws out of the timeout to bring the Spartans to within five.
Tenette showed some freshman poise on the next possession, handling the rock well under pressure. Keeping his head and finding himself open for the bank shot to extend the Lobo lead to 35-28 with about two minutes left in the half.
Soon after, another penetrating drive by Hall led to two knocked down free throws. Another Goodarzi triple was waived off as he stepped on the sideline, giving the Lobos some grace.
Albury took the ball straight to the rack right after that Spartan turnover. Giving New Mexico their largest lead of the game at 39-28 with just about a minute left to go in the game.
Hall decided to take fellow freshman Bell one-on-one on the next possession, backing him down for a turn around two pointer to extend the halftime lead to 41-28.
The Lobos really showed a level of dominance in the closing minutes of the first-half. Shooting an impressive 56% from the floor (15-27), a tough 29% (4-14) from beyond the arc & 78% (7-9) from the free throw line. The Lobos also handled the ball well with only three turnovers in the first half and receiving an impressive 19 points off of the bench.
The Spartans shot a very impressive 46% from deep, on 6-13 shooting, but struggled with early turnovers. Also not having many answers for the Lobos defensively in the closing five minutes or so.
Second Half
Melvin Bell opened the second-half scoring with a fast break layup. While Albury answered with his own fast break layup that also sent him to the line for a three point play.
After a broken play by the Spartans turned into another Colby Garland triple, giving him a game high 15 points and shrinking the Lobo lead to 11, 44-33 with 16:59 left in the game.
Moundi headed to the free throw line with another fast break attack of the rim. Knocking down his free throw attempt. Bell continued to make his impact with a three pointer on the next position, trimming the Lobo lead to just five. Capping a 9-0 Spartan scoring run as the game reached the final fifteen minutes.
The Lobos went on their own 5-0 run to extend the lead back to double-digits. Courtesy of a Luke Haupt layup & Chol’s second three pointer of the game.
San Jose State answered back with a layup by the troublesome Moundi. While Vicentic clapped back with his third triple of the game. Fans continued to be treated to what looked a three point shooting contest as Garland knocked down his fourth triple of the game.
As the freshman battle of Melvin Bell & Jake Hall continued, Hall took Bell to school with an old fashioned three point play, giving the Lobos back the double-digit lead.
Moundi got his seventh point of the game down low from a beautiful Garland assist. While Rock took it straight to him on the other end for the two point hook shot. The former Longwood Lancer continued to have his way offensively on the court, heading to the line for two made free ones for a game high 22 points.
Rock continued to pound the paint with an up and under layup that got him a shot at two free ones. He went 1-2 from the line but his offense down low freed up Tenette on the next possession for a textbook turnaround jumper to extend the lead 63-50 with about nine minutes left in the game.
After a nice defensive stop on one end, the Lobos turned it into a fastbreak two handed slam for their human highlight reel Tenette. Igniting the home crowd, only to be silenced by Garland on the other end.
Tajavis Miller knocked down his first triple of the night on the other end, only to be answered by Garland’s 5th triple of the night. Giving him his 27th point and keeping the Spartans in this one.
Miller knew he had to make the most of his sudden injection of playing time and knocked down another three pointer to give the Lobos their largest lead of the game at 71-55.
As bench players continued to make the most of their playing time, Vicentic knocked down the contested layup out of the timeout, giving him a team-high 17 points.
As we approached the final five minute mark, a questionable tie-up call, later changed to a foul by the surging Miller. Led to another Spartan turnover, only for Albury to turn it over on the fast break.
Leading Lobo scorer Vicentic continued to work his magic, as a layup attempt led to two made free throws to extend the home team lead to twenty in the closing minutes.
After a defensive stop by JT Rock on one end, the Lobos turned to their big for a two handed slam on the other end to extend a 9-0 New Mexico run.
After the media timeout, San Jose State’s Colby Garland was called for a flagrant foul which sent rock to the line for two made free throws. That was quickly followed by another 3-point play by Hall off of the inbound, extending the lead to 82-55 approaching the three minute mark.
As the Spartans ran out of gas, New Mexico kept playing with the same fine tuned intensity. With Jake Hall extending that scoring run to 17-0, with first three pointer of the night.
Pasha Goodarzi ended that scoreless run with a pair of free throws. But that didn’t matter as the Hall knocked down another triple on the other end.
Goodarzi answered a few possessions later with his third triple of the night. Followed by a Melvin Bell contested layup, as the Spartans found some late game energy, when it was a little too late.
There was .5 second left on the shot clock as coaches began the hand shake line a little early. New Mexico extended their home winning streak to nineteen with a 88-65 win over San Jose State.
After a rough first-half shooting the deep ball, New Mexico ended shooting 37% (11-30) from deep, 57% (31-54) from the floor and 83% (15-18) from the free throw line.
While Coach Miles’ Spartans were untouchable from beyond the arc, shooting 41% (11-27). They only got to the foul line ten times all game (going 8-10). And aside from Garland, Bell & Goodarzi, the rest of the squad struggled to knock down shots.
With a few starters out for the Mountain West opener, the Lobos needed others to step up. That’s just what happened against the Spartans as Coach Olen’s squad had 36 bench points.
San Jose State proved to be a worthy test of New Mexico’s readiness when some of their stars fall. Come March that experience will be much needed and Lobo fans were able to drive home with solace knowing their team continues to roll into the holiday break.
Players of the Game:
New Mexico: Milos Vicentic-Grad. Forward 19 points, 4 rebounds & 2 steals in 17 minutes on 7-9 shooting from the floor & 3-5 from deep
The graduate transfer looked like Old Reliable inside the Pit on Saturday night. Showcasing an offensive skillset that Lobo fans hadn’t really been introduced to yet this season. Displaying a three level scoring ability & leading New Mexico with a career high at the Division-I level in just 17 minutes on the floor.
When asked about his performance postgame, Vicentic had this to say about his D-I career high. “A long journey for me, a lot of issues but my coaches and teammates are pushing and this is the product of good work.”
San Jose State: Colby Garland-Junior Guard 27 points, 4 rebounds & 3 assists in 31 minutes on the floor, shooting 9-17 from the floor, including 5-8 from deep & 4-4 from the free throw line
To put it simply, Garland looked like he was playing with padded attributes on 2k against the Lobos. The 18.9 PPG scorer is putting his case in all-conference honors and did whatever he wanted on the court when the ball was in his hands.
He was certainly fun to watch & will certainly be the focal point of opposing team’s scouting reports all season long.
Next Up:
The Lobos will take advantage of the Holiday break with ten days until their next contest. With a Tuesday showdown on the road at Boise State on December 30th at9:00 PM MST.
That late night showdown will be a true testament of New Mexico’s strength as conference play gets under full swing.
Larry Muniz is a Mountain West Basketball beat writer for Couch Potato Sports along with West Coast mid-major coverage at Mid-Major Madness.
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