(15) New Mexico (14-1) at San Diego State (11-3)
Sports Network | January 5, 2010
GAME NOTES: Defense of the Mountain West Conference title begins tonight for the 15th-ranked New Mexico Lobos, as they travel to southern California to clash with the San Diego State Aztecs in Viejas Arena.
Picked to finish fifth last year in the MWC, the Lobos surprised more than a few people when they tied both BYU and Utah for the regular-season title. This year it is the same story for UNM, expected to finish fifth in the nine-team league, but already this squad is off to a remarkable start with 14 wins in 15 chances.
Since losing to Oral Roberts just days before Christmas in a 75-66 decision on the road, the Lobos have rebounded with a pair of victories, the most recent of which was a narrow 68-66 triumph against Dayton on New Year's Day at home.
Meanwhile, San Diego State has matched its best start to a campaign in the last quarter century with an 11-3 mark and has posted 12 straight wins at home dating back to last season. The Aztecs have won nine of the last 10 games overall, the most recent of those coming in an easy 89-54 final versus Pomona- Pitzer on New year's Eve.
After this game, SDSU hits the road for league matchups against both Wyoming and UNLV before heading home to host TCU in 11 days.
The all-time series currently favors the Lobos by a count of 37-27, with New Mexico completely dominating the Aztecs in the most recent meeting last season, 75-49, at home in The Pit. The teams will complete their season series on February 6th in Albuquerque.
Dairese Gary brought home the win for the Lobos against Dayton last week, posting seven of his 18 points in the last two minutes of a game that was decided by a mere two points once the smoke cleared. Roman Martinez contributed another 17 points and six rebounds, while Darington Hobson had another sensational effort with 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals as the team survived 19 turnovers. Defensively, the Lobos limited Dayton to a season-low 33.9 percent shooting from the field and only 8-of-33 behind the three-point line. The arrival of Hobson from the College of Eastern Utah has been huge for New Mexico because few players in the MWC have the all- around game that he possesses and leaves out on the floor every night. Hobson has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and paces the program in double-doubles (five) and double-digit scoring games (13). At this point, the junior is putting up 16.8 ppg, grabbing 8.1 rpg and has delivered 67 assists, all of which lead the Lobos. Not to be overlooked are Martinez (15.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Phillip McDonald (10.7 ppg), because they too play integral parts in this squad's early success.
The Aztecs closed out the 2009 calendar year with an easy victory, pummeling Pomona-Pitzer by 35 points after getting by both Drake and UC Riverside by a combined eight points in the previous two outings. The meeting was a chance for many of the SDSU players to pump up their stats as the team put six players in double figures, beginning with Kawhi Leonard who actually recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Malcolm Thomas chipped in 15 points, Billy White and backup Brian Carlwell 13 apiece as the team shot 53 percent from the field and suffered a mere three turnovers. Like Hobson for the Lobos, Leonard has also added a new dimension to San Diego State with his recent play. Leonard has recorded five double doubles in the last nine games alone, and in one of those he was a reserve. He is almost averaging a double-double with 10.6 points and team-best 9.6 rpg, which means the Aztecs are not having to lean so much on White (12.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) in the paint these days.
San Diego State certainly has been strong at home this season, but some of the competition has not been all that great. Given how well Hobson has adapted to the UNM game expect to see the Lobos give the Aztecs a hard time tonight.
GAME NOTES: Defense of the Mountain West Conference title begins tonight for the 15th-ranked New Mexico Lobos, as they travel to southern California to clash with the San Diego State Aztecs in Viejas Arena.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Viejas Arena (12,414) -- San Diego, California. Television: The Mtn. Home Record: UNM 10-0, SDSU 7-0. Away Record: UNM 3-1, SDSU 4-3. Neutral Record: UNM 1-0, SDSU 0-0. Conference Record: UNM 0-0, SDSU 0-0. Series Record: New Mexico leads, 37-27.
New Mexico 79, San Diego State 72
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