by Phil Parker
Daily Lobo
In their first game of the season, the Lobo men's basketball team showed there are two ways to dominate an opponent.
During the first half of their 95-42 blowout over San Francisco State University, the Lobos dumped the ball inside to sophomore forward David Chiotti, who had his way in the post. After halftime, UNM rained 3-pointers like they were layups, hitting nine of 10 from behind the arc.
Chiotti scored UNM's first eight, on his way to a career-high 22 points. He hit on jumpers and one-handed hooks and was un-guardable throughout the first period, as evidenced by his six of seven shooting for 19 first-half points.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"David is really confident right now," UNM head coach Ritchie McKay said. "He's been consistent throughout the preseason and has done a nice job of improving on a daily basis."
When Chiotti wasn't breaking down the inside, other Lobos were contributing with drives and jumpers that helped UNM build a 45-19 first-half lead. Guards Mark Walters and Javin Tindall had early layups in traffic, and after a Justin Benson putback and four straight points by senior guard Ryan Ashcraft, the Lobos were up 21-6 after eight minutes of play.
UNM shot 50 percent on 3-pointers in the first half, including one by Walters at the buzzer with a defender in his face.
The solid percentage of the first half was pedestrian compared to UNM's blistering shooting in the second half.
Chiotti picked up his third foul early in the second half and was benched by McKay, but Tindall quickly took control.
After hitting a turn-around jumper to start, he buried three straight 3-pointers.
Then, just moments after subbing into the game, Lenny Miles added his own perimeter shot from the top of the key. Miles hit two free throws on the Lobo's next possession for a total of five quick points.
SFSU's David Hungerford hit a baseline jumper at the other end, but Miles responded with another three just one minute later to cap his own 8-2 run.
Like a football team that runs to open up the passing game, the Lobos were able to hit on their 3-point attempts thanks to the first-half bruising Chiotti put on SFSU down low.
"They were mostly concentrating on the inside game because of Dave," Miles said. "He went for so many points in the first half that everybody was sinking down, and that opened up the outside perimeter for us guards."
When the Lobos weren't hitting threes in the second half, they were making highlight-worthy plays. Ashcraft hit another trey to make the score 68-32 and on UNM's next possession, hit Alfred Neale for an ally-oop that brought The Pit crowd to its feet.
Freshman Ryan Wall followed that score with a no-look pass under the basket to Chiotti, who hit the layup and was fouled for a three-point play.
But the Gators couldn't keep up. Freshman forward Kellen Walter got into the act with two 3-pointers of his own toward the end of the game.
Tindall finished with 18 points, Miles had 11 in his Lobo debut and Walters was solid with eight points, six rebounds, and four assists. Benson grabbed a team-high nine boards.
The Lobos will be back in action tonight at The Pit when they take on New Mexico Highlands University at 7 p.m.
