If the Lobo men's basketball players looked in the mirror after Saturday night, they might see the faces of the San Diego State Aztecs.
UNM can't win on the road - SDSU can't either. Both teams have combined for an 0-12 record on the road in the Mountain West Conference.
Saturday night at The Pit, UNM was the polar opposite of the team that lost earlier in San Diego on Feb. 2. The Lobos were confident, not hesitant and all they needed was to be at home.
SDSU, on the other hand, looked all too much like the Lobos on the road.
UNM (14-11, 5-7) dismantled the Aztecs (14-13, 5-7), cruising to a 72-60 victory that bumped UNM into a tie for fifth place with the Aztecs in the conference standings.
In front of an uneasy crowd of 15,123, the game was a stalemate until midway through the first half. But after Aztec forward Chris Manker drained a three to give SDSU a six-point lead at 23-17, the stalemate turned into frenzy.
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The Lobos awoke from their slumber.
Senior Javin Tindall buried three-straight threes, sparking UNM on a 19-6 run to close the half. The Lobos led 36-29 heading into the locker room.
The second half began like the first half ended, with the Lobos running away. The Aztecs did not score until there was 13:31 remaining in the second half. Meanwhile, UNM went on an 8-0 run extending its lead to 15 points.
"I thought the first five minutes of the second half was the difference in the game," head coach Ritchie McKay said. "We defended really well, and I don't know when our fans finally sat down, but I think that just gave us a lot of confidence and propelled us to victory."
In the earlier meeting in San Diego, David Chiotti was hampered by a sprained ankle and unable to play. Aztec star forward Aerick Sanders scorched UNM for 27 points and 10 rebounds, pounding the Lobos inside the paint.
This time, with Chiotti at full strength and clogging up the middle, Sanders seemed doubtful and flustered.
"We just wanted to keep (Sanders) off the glass," Chiotti said. "Last time he had a lot of offensive boards and deep catches and easy baskets. We were going to force him to shoot that jumper and keep him off the glass."
Sanders finished the game with only 10 points and seven boards. His action was limited as UNM got him in foul trouble early on. He fouled out of the game with 4:05 remaining.
The Lobos got all their offensive punch from Tindall, Danny Granger, David Chiotti and Troy DeVries, who combined for 68 of the 72 points.
Granger led the team with a game high of 20 points and 15 rebounds. Chiotti finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, with 14 of those points coming in the finishing half. DeVries and Tindall added 16 each, connecting on eight of 10 field goals, 7 of 8 threes and 9 of 9 from the charity stripe.
The Lobos finish off their home schedule tonight as they take on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
It will be senior night for two Lobos, Tindall and Ryan Ashcraft.
Tip-off is slated for 7:05 at Bob King Court. The game can be heard live on 770 KKOB AM.
