While the UNM women's basketball team escaped with a 63-53 win over San Diego State University Saturday, it may not be the last the Lobos hear from the Aztecs.
The Lobos could conceivably play SDSU again next week in the opening round of Mountain West Conference Tournament, which, given the nature of the last four games the two teams have played, would probably be a nail-biter.
However, Flanagan said he is not just worried about a potential rematch with the Aztecs; he believes the conference is the toughest it has ever been.
"We're working right now to play somebody in seeding, but I'm not so sure I want to play any of those guys." he said.
Flanagan pointed to the University of Utah and the Air Force Academy as teams that could give an opponent fits in the opening day of the tournament.
"There will be, guaranteed the first day, an upset," Flanagan said.
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Still, of the bottom teams in the conference, the Aztecs have given the Lobos the hardest time over the past two seasons. In last season's opening round of the conference tournament, the Lobos battled back from a 21-19 deficit to win by holding the Aztecs scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half. Then, in January, UNM lost most of a 41-13 lead before holding on for a 58-49 win.
SDSU head coach Barb Smith said the games are close and exciting because both teams play tough defense and sometimes have trouble scoring.
"We do have a lot of similarities, but we got to come out on top one of these times, and I believe the next time we see them, we will," Smith said.
During Saturday's game, UNM overcame a 28-24 halftime deficit by holding San Diego State scoreless for the first 3:51 and allowing only two baskets in the first seven minutes of the second half. The Lobos took command behind center Jordan Adams, who tallied eight of her 19 points early in the second half. Her last points came on a pair of free throws to give UNM a 36-32 lead with 12:54 left.
The Lobos also took care of the ball better than the last time the two teams met. UNM coughed up the ball 24 times against SDSU Jan. 23, but it committed only 15 turnovers Saturday.
In the first half, SDSU kept the Lobos in check by holding them to eight-of-32 shooting in the first half, while connecting on 39 percent of its shots. The Aztecs showed their balance on offense as Jamey Cox riddled the UNM defense with nine points on three 3-pointers. She also got help inside from the trio of Nicollete McCarty, Valencia Howard, and Tanisha Knight, who each scored four points in the opening half.
Flanagan said it's that kind of balance that makes San Diego State a dangerous team.
"They have good shooters, and they are aggressive, and they play hard," Flanagan said. "Any team that plays hard for 40 minutes is going to give you some trouble."
Smith said the past couple of weeks have been the best her team has played all season.
"If we'd have played this way earlier in the year, it would be a different story," she said.
The Aztecs have come close to pulling off an upset during the past two weeks, holding second half leads against Colorado State University and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas before losing.
Smith said fouls are hurting her team more than anything else. Against the Lobos, it was no different. The Aztecs were whistled for 26 fouls, although eight of them were called in the final 3:22 as they tried to make a comeback.
She declined to comment on the officiating, but said the number of fouls called on her team versus the opponent is uneven.
"It's never even," Smith said. "We're just fouling and the other teams go to the line."
