Anthony Mathis will return for one more season.
The sharpshooter has been granted a season of competition waiver by the NCAA, which Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal reports is due to his usage by former head coach Craig Neal during the 2016-17 season.
"I’m incredibly blessed and fortunate to be able to play another year of college basketball and continue my academic journey," Mathis said in a tweet. "I look forward to getting back on the court and starting graduate school."
Mathis was a non-factor during Neal's run as head coach, and struggled to see the floor. He was among the plethora of Lobos who announced their intention to transfer following Neal's final season as head coach, but decided to stay at New Mexico following Paul Weir's hiring.
"I am so happy for Anthony,” Weir said in a release. “There hasn’t been a more committed member of our team the past two years and to have him for one more is an absolutely huge boost for our program."
Mathis averaged 14.4 points per game last season and is among the best shooters in program history, breaking the record for most three-pointers in a single season last year.
"Anthony is an amazing player but he is an even better person to have helping to put this program back where it belongs,” Weir said. “I am looking forward to the upcoming season and all that we can accomplish with him back for another year.
Mathis played only 64 minutes during the 2016-17 season and averaged 2.9 points per game. He becomes the second Lobo in the last week to announce he would play another season with the program, joining Carlton Bragg. Mathis will play next season as a redshirt senior.
Cameron Goeldner is a senior reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and the Albuquerque Isotopes, but also contributes content for all other sports. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
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