LAS VEGAS -- The Lobos ended a long and frustrating season with a 71-56 loss to BYU in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament Thursday in Las Vegas.
UNM was the victim of a Cougar team that used 8-0 and 14-0 runs to turn a tight game into an easy victory.
The Lobos hung tight in the first half and kept the bigger BYU squad out of the paint by starting both big men, David Chiotti and Chad Bell. With the Cougars settling for the outside shot, UNM took an early 16-11 lead after junior guard Javin Tindall drove to the lane for an easy two points. The Lobos still had a 20-17 lead heading into the final minutes of the half, but that would change.
BYU post player Rafael Araujo scored on consecutive possessions. He was fouled on the second and the Cougars took the lead for the first time, 22-20. Ricky Bower then hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds to go as BYU ended the half on an 8-0 run.
Going into the break, UNM saw its hard work and determination spoiled by the explosive ability of the Cougars. In a battle that mirrored a deliberate boxing match with both fighters feeling each other out, BYU had found a weakness and drawn first blood.
The beginning of the second half started out well for the Lobos when freshman guard Mark Walters went up and over the Cougars' Travis Hansen for two points and the foul to make it 25-23. UNM continued to battle in the opening minutes of the second frame and found some unlikely scoring from junior guard Ryan Ashcraft, who made a layup and a three to cut the lead down to one, 29-28.
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The Lobos regained the lead when Walters scored two more to put UNM up 30-29, but like a boxer that has expended all his energy, the Lobos quickly turned into a punching bag with no answer.
BYU took that opportunity to go on a 14-0 run, taking a commanding 45-32 lead. Once the stunned UNM squad realized what had happened, it was too late. In the last 10 minutes of the contest, both teams traded baskets back and forth as BYU finished it off for 71-56 win.
Noticeably contained was senior guard Ruben Douglas who, despite making a couple of shots early on, could not break free and was held to 18 points on five of 19 shooting from the floor. However, Douglas only needed 18 points in the game to secure the national scoring title.
"It's over now, so I can breathe," Douglas said.
The Lobos will undoubtedly miss the leadership and skill that Douglas brought to the team.
"It's hard losing a guy like him not just because of what he does on the court but off the court too," Walters said of Douglas. "We're always hanging out with him and he just makes us laugh. He's a good person, too."
UNM will obviously miss Douglas, but the Lobos should be encouraged by the maturity and improvement of players like Walters and Chiotti who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, under the bright lights of the MWC Tournament.
