DENVER, Colo. - The third time is supposed to be the charm. Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament, the Lobos checked in and out of the heartbreak hotel, losing to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for the third time this year 55-53.
Time to erase the memories and put to bed the what's, but's and if's of the regular season. March Madness has officially arrived. The teams of the Mountain West Conference embark to the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. on Thursday, vying for a ticket to the Big Dance.
There is an adage in college basketball regarding 3-point shooting teams that says "you live and you die by the three." Monday night at The Pit, the UNM men's basketball team and the Runnin' Rebels of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas tantalized the crowd in a thrilling uptempo conference battle.
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.
Finger pointing, frustration and confusion have left the UNM men's basketball season teetering on the edge. Just two weeks ago, the Lobos were alone in fourth place in the conference with a .500 record at 4-4. But after a back-breaking road swing over the past two weeks that saw UNM drop three straight to Air Force, BYU and Utah - the latter two losses by a combined 47 points - the Lobos were left questioning themselves as a team and a contender.
It was a vintage home victory made of staunch defense, timely shooting and tons of hustle. The UNM men's basketball team made a stellar second-half run Saturday night in The Pit, cruising to a 63-51 victory over the Colorado State Rams. The victory catapults the Lobos (12-8, 3-4) from the conference cellar into a five-way tie for third place in the Mountain West Conference standings.
There is nothing like the confines of home after a lethargic road trip. Just ask the Lobos. "It's good to be home," sophomore guard Lenny Miles said. "Everybody on the team loves to play at The Pit. We come out firing here, and we need that fire back in our eyes.
Katie Montgomery Basketball Freshman Montgomery's clutch shooting won the game for UNM Saturday against UNLV, as four of her six points came in the last minute. She scored to tie the game at 66, then connected on another as the shot clock expired to give UNM a two-point advantage with 20 seconds remaining.
Saturday night in Las Vegas the UNM men's basketball team continued its struggles on the road, losing to UNLV 89-80. The lack of intensity and defense in the first half eventually did the Lobos in, letting another opportunity to break their road losing streak slip away.
In the grand plan, the UNM men's basketball team accomplished what it should have - swept a home series against conference foes and protected its home floor in the process. Next up in the Lobos' quest for the conference crown is achieving another important goal - winning on the road.
Solutions by The State News
