UNM men’s basketball defeated Fresno State 83–74 on Wednesday in the Pit, but the game was overshadowed by heavy officiating. Mountain West officials called 39 combined fouls, including 16 on UNM in the second half, prompting head coach Eric Olen to receive just the third technical foul of his career. Despite late whistles allowing Fresno State to close the margin, the Lobos controlled the game behind a dominant defensive effort. UNM forced 22 turnovers, recorded a season-high 18 steals and turned those into 29 points, improving to another conference win ahead of Saturday’s 90's themed matchup with Nevada.

Erik, Nick, and Ed recap the game with their personal takes and look ahead to Nevada.

Sam Hadfield from 801 Bracketology joins the show to talk NCAA bids, bubble watch and first-four in scenarios for New Mexico Basketball and the rest of the Mountain West Conference.

Fresno State Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/heavy-officiating-overshadows-strong-unm-defense-in-win-over-fresno-state

In a clash that lived up to two decades of rivalry, the University of New Mexico stood on the precipice of a stunning comeback and a share of the Mountain West lead. After erasing a 15-point deficit in the hostile confines of Viejas Arena, the Lobos had the ball and the momentum in a tied game with under 40 seconds to play. But in a heartbreak defined by inches, a single steal by SDSU’s Miles Byrd turned a potential New Mexico triumph into a 83-79 Aztec victory, leaving the Lobos wondering what might have been.

In this episode we discuss the Lobos and Aztecs game of runs, key performers, coaching decisions, and missed opportunities.

Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/san-diego-state-steals-new-mexicos-hopes-of-mountain-west-lead

New Mexico used stifling second-half defense and a smart offensive adjustment to defeat Grand Canyon 87–64 Tuesday at The Pit. After a tight first half, the Lobos clamped down defensively, holding the Lopes to 28% shooting and forcing tough, contested looks. Offensively, UNM countered GCU’s pick-and-roll drop coverage with mid-range jumpers and consistent trips to the free throw line, led by Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette. Strong physical play, balanced scoring, and impactful minutes from JT Rock helped UNM pull away and extend its home winning streak to 21 games.

Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/lobos-find-sweet-spot-jumpers-and-defense-in-blowout-over-gcu

The Mountain West Conference’s newest rivalry tips off Tuesday night in The Pit, where UNM looks to remind Grand Canyon why coming to Albuquerque remains one of the league’s toughest road trips.

The Lopes (10-5) have started strong in their first season in the Mountain West conference and stand at 3-1 in league play. They are on a two-game win streak, having won 75-58 at Boise State on Wednesday, followed by a 76-58 victory at home against San Jose State on Saturday.

Go Lopes Radio, Brennan Williams, joins The Pit Press crew to preview the game, key personnel, matchups, and surprises.

Game Preview: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/unm-looks-to-flex-home-court-muscle-agaisnt-gcus-big-bodies

This week, we recap a massive Saturday night in Albuquerque as the New Mexico Lobos extended their home winning streak to 20 games with a 78-58 dismantling of the Wyoming Cowboys. We dive deep into the "Tomislav Buljan Game"—analyzing how the freshman’s historic 25-point, 12-rebound double-double has fundamentally shifted the ceiling of this UNM roster.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Tomi Takeover: Is Buljan officially the "Alpha" in the Lobos’ frontcourt?

• The Second-Half Blitz: How Eric Olen’s tactical adjustments turned a 3-point nail-biter into a 20-point rout.

• Leland Walker’s Long Night: How the Lobos’ perimeter defense turned Wyoming’s leading scorer into a turnover machine.

Looking Ahead: The Fort Collins gauntlet. We wrap up the show with a comprehensive scouting report on Colorado State with Insider Steve Ivy - Cracker's College Hoops. The Rams are shooting the lights out (Ranked #2 in 3PT%), but they can't rebound to save their lives. We outline the 4 keys to the game the Lobos must follow to steal a win at Moby Arena and stay atop the Mountain West standings.

UNM/CSU Preview: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/unm-heads-to-fort-collins-dangerous-csu

UNM/WYO Recap: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/buljan-bullies-in-the-paint-in-win-over-wyoming

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A historic shooting slump or a defensive masterclass? Today, we’re breaking down a night to forget for the Lobos in Idaho.

New Mexico rolled into Boise with momentum, but they left with the coldest shooting performance in program history. Despite a dominant 15-0 run and a double-digit lead in the second half, the Lobos’ offense went ice-cold, finishing a staggering 3-of-25 from beyond the arc.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The 12% Disaster: How a record-breaking 3-point struggle derailed UNM’s Mountain West momentum.
• The Battle of the Bricks: A gritty, physical slugfest where both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net.
• Bronco Physicality: How Boise State used their size and reserve freshman Spencer Ahrens to snatch the lead back in the paint.
• Missed Opportunities: Analyzing the late-game free throw woes that silenced the Lobos' comeback hopes.

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't high-scoring, but it was a Mountain West wake-up call. We’re dissecting what went wrong for the Lobos and how they bounce back from their first conference loss.

Listen in as we break down the frostbite in Boise.

We also look ahead to the Wyoming game slated for Saturday 1/3 at The Pit in Albuquerque. The Cowboys come in at 10-3 (1-1 MW) and have a stellar freshman in 6'7 Naz Meyer. Meyer has been named MWC Freshman of the Week three times already and had a season high 26 points vs. South Dakota in mid-November.

Boise State Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/frostbite-in-boise-icy-shooting-hands-lobos-first-mwc-loss

Website: ThePitPressNM.com

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The Result: New Mexico beat San Jose State 88–65 at The Pit.

The Streak: This was the Lobos' 19th straight home win, extending one of the longest active streaks in the nation.

MWC News: It was a wild opening day for the conference. Utah State crushed Colorado State 100–58, and Nevada took down Boise State 81–66.

Ricky Thompson with the Cherry Heat Check Podcast joins the show to breakdown UNM and MWC hoops.
You can find Rick's podcast here:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WMLMww76mk
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bNV3fk...

Check out our game recap on our website - writer Mark "Ticky" Smith
Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/mi...

Website: ThePitPressNM.com

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Mountain West Mid-Season Report Card: UNM's Resume and the Battle for Bids

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The calendar has flipped to conference play, and it’s time to deliver the grades! In this can't-miss episode, we dive deep into the crucial non-conference season for the entire Mountain West, starting right here in Albuquerque.

Did the Lobos capitalize on their marquee matchups? We break down every crucial victory and tough loss, analyzing UNM's current NET/KenPom rankings and how their pre-conference performance has positioned them for an NCAA Tournament bid. What worked in The Pit and on the road, and what has to change before they face the league's heavy-hitters?

Then, we widen the lens to grade the entire Mountain West Conference. Who built a legitimate at-large resume, and who is already staring down the barrel of a must-win conference tournament?

Website: ThePitPressNM.com