Sports - The Daily Lobo

Redshirt sophomore guard Elijah Brown passes the ball down court at WisePies Arena Nov. 13. Brown scored 31 points Sunday night when the Lobos beat the Aggies 83-74.

Sports

Men's basketball: Brown nets 31 points as Lobos top NMSU

J.R. Oppenheim | November 16

Guard Elijah Brown scored a career-high 31 points Sunday night in Las Cruces, leading New Mexico to an 83-74 victory over in-state rival New Mexico State. Brown, two days removed from a 16-point effort in the season opener, surpassed his previous best in just the first half. His performance helped the Lobos break 80 points for the second time in two games. UNM captured an 86-57 victory over Texas Southern on Friday.

Senior middle blocker Simone Henderson celebrates at Johnson Center Oct. 29. The Lobos beat Fresno State this Saturday 3-0 and play Utah State this Wednesday at 7 p.m..

Sports

Volleyball: Lobos receive spark from the outside as end of season nears

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 15

The Lobos have been searching for a go-to player all season. Outside hitter Cassie House is beginning to emerge as that player as the season comes to a close. New Mexico (15-13, 8-7 MW) was staring a four-game losing streak in the face. The squad asked House for some guidance, and the tall Rio Rancho native answered with her first career double-double of 10 kills and a career-high 11 digs. Behind the hard-hitting outside, UNM conquered Fresno State (14-15, 6-9 MW) with a 3-0 sweep on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt sophomore guard Cullen Neal leaps past Texas Southerns Jose Rodriguez at WisePies Arena Friday nights. The Lobos beat out the Tigers 86-57 and play NMSU this Sunday in Las Cruces, NM.

Sports

Men's basketball: Leaders emerge in home opener

Alexiss Adams | November 14

Leader came forth for the Lobos on Friday night. The preseason’s fog of uncertainty which came with both exhibition games began to fade away Friday night as the UNM men’s basketball team opened their regular season at WisePies arena aka The Pit.

The Lobos defense brings down a Utah State player during their game at University Stadium Nov. 7. UNM plays Boise State this Saturday and is one win away from bowl eligibility with three games remaining in the 2015 season.

Sports

Football: Lobos hoping to pull upset at Boise State

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 14

It takes more than one big win to change a team’s perception. Even after a big upset of Utah State last weekend, New Mexico is still considered a heavy underdog at Boise State on Saturday. The Broncos are a 30-point favorites over the Lobos in Boise, Idaho.

Sophomore guard Jayda Bovero goes through Houston Baptist's defense on her way to a lay up at WisePies Arena Friday night. The Lobos beat the Huskies 65-57 in their season opener.

Sports

Women's basketball: Lobos overcome second-half stumble in home opener

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 14

A lot went wrong for New Mexico during the team’s season-opening 65-57 win over Houston Baptist on Friday night. However, a win is a win. Despite being outscored in the second half, UNM managed to cling to a 38-22 first-half lead to begin the season 1-0. The game shouldn’t have been as close as it was, and the Lobos were exposed in a variety of areas throughout Friday night’s contest.

Senior Elmar Engholm pushes down the homestretch of the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships Friday afternoon. The mens cross country team took 9th and the womens placed second.

Sports

Cross country: Second-place finish in regionals warrants trip to NCAAs for women

Robert Maler | November 13

The men’s season will likely come to a close. The New Mexico men’s cross country team's performance during Friday’s Mountain Regional Championship forced the team to fill the spectator role. The women’s team, however, is headed to Kentucky for the Division I Cross Country Championships.

Sports

Volleyball: Lobos comeback at UNLV comes up short

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 13

While facing a 2-0 deficit in Las Vegas, the Lobos comeback pursuit fell short on Thursday night. New Mexico has had problems all season long in the fifth set and Thursday night’s showing against the Rebels was no different. UNM (14-13, 7-7 MW) have gone 1-6 in matches extending to five games.

Josh Jacquez (center) prepares himself for a martial art called Shoa-Lin Kung Fu Wednesday night at the 4th annual Martial Arts Expo at Johnson Gym. Sensei Abraham Tames (left) and Sedjenane Chang (right) broke boards upon Jacquez's arms and legs.

Sports

Martial artists shine at UNM expo

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 12

There aren’t usually many people swinging broad swords or spears on the floor of Johnson Gym. No, it wasn’t a reenactment of any sort but a demonstration of several fighting styles at the 4th Annual Martial Arts Expo at UNM. Several martial arts were on display including: karate, Japanese jujutsu, mixed martial arts, judo, fencing and Shoa-Lin Kung Fu.

Sophomore guard Jayda Bovero dribbles past a New Mexico Highlands player at WisePies Arena on Nov. 7. The Lobos have their season opener against Houston Baptist this Friday at 8 p.m.

Sports

Women's basketball: Starting roster is set for Lobos' opener

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 12

There is no more debate about who will lead the Lobos onto the court for opening night. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez has named her starting five as New Mexico awaits the season tip on Friday at 8 p.m. against Houston Baptist. After an offseason with question marks surrounding the five and three spots, guard Jannan Otto and center Whitney Johnson will join guard Bryce Owens, forward Khadijah Shumpert and guard Cherise Beynon as the first players with playing time in the 2015-2016 campaign, according to Sanchez.

Redshirt junior linebacker Kenya Donaldson celebrates before the Lobos’ 28-27 victory against Hawaii University at University Stadium on Oct. 17. The Lobos are a mere three wins away from going to the Mountain West Championship game.

Sports

Football: Lobos still in MW Title game chase

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 12

However unlikely it seemed at the beginning of the season, New Mexico is just three wins away from earning a spot in the Mountain West Championship game. All UNM has to do is win its remaining three games of the season against Boise State, Colorado State and Air Force – the latter two are at home – to secure a spot. The Broncos are 30-point favorites over the Lobos when the teams match up this Saturday in Boise, Idaho.

The UNM cross country team takes off during last year’s NCAA Mountain Region Championships. In this year’s Mountain Region Championships, the Lobos will be running for a bid in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Tournament.

Sports

Cross country: Focus is on NCAA Cross Country Championships, coach says

Robert Maler | November 12

The Lobos will finally get the opportunity to run in front of their home crowd as they compete at the NCAA Mountain Regional Cross Country Championships on Friday. At the beginning of the season coach Joe Franklin outlined two main goals: win the Mountain West Conference Championships, and earn a spot to compete in nationals. The women completed the former on Oct. 30 in Reno, Nevada, and now both teams have a chance to participate in nationals.

Lobos Cassie House (left) and Skye Gullatt block a CSU kill at Johnson Center on Nov. 7. The Lobos play UNLV this Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sports

Volleyball: Lobos battle for pride with MW title out of reach

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 12

Just last week the Lobos were in position to make a run at the No. 2 spot in the conference. This week New Mexico is fighting to stay above .500. At the tail end of UNM’s four-game home stand, the Lobos couldn’t put together a win when they really needed one. Barring a major meltdown from one of the three teams ahead of UNM in the standings, New Mexico will look to maintain a fourth-place spot in the conference.

Redshirt junior forward Tim Williams breaks through Rogers State’s defense for a layup at WisePies Arena on Nov. 6. The Lobos play Texas Southern for their season opener on Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at WisePies Arena.

Sports

Men's basketball: Season opens Friday vs. Texas Southern

J.R. Oppenheim | November 12

New Mexico opens the regular season with two exhibition games under its belt. Texas Southern doesn’t have any. That makes a scouting report for Friday’s game a little tricky. In his press conference before the 2015-16 season begins for real, Lobo head coach Craig Neal said Texas Southern will be one of the toughest season-openers the team has had. He added that the Tigers feature a number of transfers, which makes it a little difficult to evaluate.

Sports

Men's soccer: UNM bows out of C-USA tourney early

Isabel Gonzalez | November 12

The UNM men’s soccer team fell 1-0 to the No. 17 South Carolina Gamecocks during the Conference USA Quarterfinals Wednesday night. Head coach Jeremy Fishbein described the loss as “gut-wrenching.” The Lobos (8-6-4) saw a lot of the ball, outshooting the Gamecocks 12-9, and 5-3 with shots on goal. But their efforts were not enough for a win.

Junior forward Niko Hansen fights for the ball against a Florida Atlantic player at the UNM Soccer Complex Friday Nov. 6. The Lobos play the Gamecocks this Wednesday at the Conference USA Championships.

Sports

Men's soccer: Lobos to face Gamecocks in first round of C-USA tourney

Isabel Gonzalez | November 11

After what could be described as a less-than-ideal regular season, the Lobos sneaked through to clinch a spot in this year’s Conference USA Championship. The Lobos had trouble during the regular season of conference play, only winning two matches. However, they say they are ready to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them.

Tim Jacobs squares up with a Rogers State player at WisePies Arena Friday Nov. 6. The Lobs beat Rogers State 80-69 at their second exhibition for the season and will play Texas Southern Friday Nov. 13.

Sports

Men's basketball: Williams sees first action after transferring to UNM

J.R. Oppenheim | November 9

Sitting on the bench last year, Tim Williams became familiar with the atmosphere of WisePies Arena. And now that the exhibition schedule is in the books, he knows what it’s like to play before the Albuquerque crowd. Williams, a junior transfer from Samford University, got his first-game experience as a member of the New Mexico men’s basketball team after sitting out last year. The NCAA's eligibility rules require all transfers to sit out one year before they can play for their new teams.

Utah State’s Braelon Roberts (88) watches as the Lobo defense chases a fumble at University Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Lobos beat the Aggies 14-13.

Sports

Football: Lobos channel good fortune to overcome Utah State

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 9

Sometimes it takes more than skill to garner a victory. New Mexico’s defense kept UNM in Saturday’s game against Utah State, but Head Coach Bob Davie said the Lobos were due for some good fortune during the squad’s 14-13 victory. The game was by no means a fluke, Davie said. But if it weren’t for some favorable bounces, a missed field goal and timely penalties, things could have been different for New Mexico late in the contest.

Senior setter Hannah Johnson watches a CSU spike go past at Johnson Center Saturday night. The Lobos lost to CSU 3-0.

Sports

Volleyball: UNM struggles in three game sweep

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 9

Colorado State’s size posed big problems for New Mexico’s offense in a 3-0 sweep at Johnson Center on Saturday night. The Rams (21-3, 14-0 MW) showed why they are still the top team in the Mountain West after sweeping the Lobos for the second time this season.

Sophomore guard Jannon Otto shoots a free throw against New Mexico Highlands at WisePies Arena Saturday night. The lobos won 80-29 and will play Houston Baptist Nov. 13 for their regular season opener.

Sports

Women's basketball: Lobos end preseason on a high note

Alexiss Adams | November 7

As the preseason comes to a close, women’s basketball Head Coach Yvonne Sanchez said she feels confident about her team’s ability to succeed going into the regular season. The Lobos faced New Mexico Highlands for their second and final exhibition game of the preseason, in which they dominated in an 80-39 victory. The team comes off a strong first exhibition game in a 78-41 win against Western New Mexico.

Senior linebacker Ryan Langford takes down Utah State running back Devante Mays at University Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Lobos defense helped New Mexico to a 14-13 victory over the Aggies.

Sports

Football: UNM's defense shores up offensive shortcomings

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 7

New Mexico’s defense has finally reached its potential. After weeks of inconsistent play, the Lobos’ defense shut down Utah State in a 14-13 win at University Stadium on Saturday. UNM made several big plays and held USU to just 294 total yards of offense. USU had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but kicker Brock Warren missed a 41-yard field goal to give UNM (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) the win.