Traveling is not easy for anyone -- just ask the Lobo men's basketball team.
Dating back to last year, UNM has dropped 12 straight road games, including its first two conference road games this season. But as the saying goes, home is where the heart is and the Lobos will embrace their home court with arms wide open.
Saturday night, The Pit will be the setting for a significant clash versus conference rival San Diego State University. Head coach Ritchie McKay and his Lobos must learn how to use The Pit and protect their home court at all costs.
Coming off a non-conference thumping over Western New Mexico, the Lobos look to ride the hot hand of Mountain West Conference scoring leader Ruben Douglas to lead them to victory.
Welcome an explosive SDSU team. After winning the MWC tournament just a year ago, it has climbed out of the Mountain West cellar to become one the best teams in the league. The Aztecs return eight lettermen. Four were starters from last year's team that went 21-12 and had an appearance in the NCAA tournament. SDSU poses a major threat to the young Lobos and to the rest of the conference.
Starting the season with its best record since the 1996-97 campaign, legendary coach Steve Fisher and his talented arsenal have jumped into first place in the MWC standings with solid victories over Air Force and Utah. The Aztecs currently stand at 11-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Coming off a tough loss to Brigham Young University on Monday, Fisher will lead his hungry bunch into The Pit looking for vengeance.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
SDSU is led by a trio of talented seniors. The inside enforcer is Mike Mackell (15.7 PPG). He is a banger inside and can wear his opponent down on both ends of the floor. He is complemented by a talented backcourt tandem of Tony Bland (15.6 PPG) and Deandre Moore (8.4 PPG). Bland is a natural scorer who can slash or shoot lights out on any given night. His counterpart, Moore, is a deadly 3-point bomber, shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc. When all three are clicking together, SDSU can give teams nightmares.
On the other hand, the Lobos stand at 6-9 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Despite a tough start, UNM is brimming with confidence after a near upset at Wyoming and a blowout over Division II Western New Mexico. The Lobos are led by the third leading scorer in the nation, Ruben Douglas (25.7 PPG).
He is averaging 34.5 PPG in conference play and can single-handedly keep the Lobos in games. For team success, however, UNM must look for help from Douglas' cohorts.
The Lobos need to play stifling interior defense, shut down SDSU's prolific guards and play offense as one unit. To do so, UNM will need freshman forward David Chiotti and sophomore forward Michael McCowan to stay physical inside, as well as rebound on the defensive end. On the other side of the ball, the offense needs solid production from sophomore forward Jamaal Williams, junior guard Javin Tindall and freshman guard Mark Walters.
UNM boasts the best freshman in the league in Walters. He leads all freshmen in the MWC in points (9.0 PPG) and rebounds (6.0 RPG). Against WNMU, Walters sustained an injury and his status is not known for Saturday's game. If Walters fails to dress for the game, the Lobos' other guards, Ryan Ashcraft and Jeff Hart, will have to step up and play solid defense and score opportune points.
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m., Saturday, at University Arena. The game will be televised on Channel 13 (Sports West) and broadcast live (770 KKOB).
