More than 18,000 people watched the Lobos make history Saturday night - by losing to the Air Force Falcons.
The Falcons had never beaten UNM in The Pit. In fact, Air Force had not defeated the Lobos in Albuquerque since 1962 when they played in Johnson Center.
With the win, Air Force (11-2, 2-0), who is now the former laughing stock of the Mountain West Conference, set a school record with its ninth straight win. It also ended UNM's home winning streak at seven. The Lobos are now 9-6 and 0-2 in the MWC.
UNM was a miserable 36.8 percent from the floor. However, Air Force scorched the nets making 62.5 percent of its shots and missed only 15 field goal attempts all night.
But while the Falcon offense seemed unstoppable for the Lobos, much of the damage was self-inflicted. UNM had 17 turnovers and eight assists in the game, which the Falcons converted into 20 points.
In the first 10 minutes the Lobos had nine turnovers. Air Force had 10 in the entire game.
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Head coach Ritchie McKay took full responsibility for the devastating blow.
"It's the first time (The Pit) has been sold out since I've been here," he said. "It's embarrassing. But this loss is on me. I let them down tonight."
Guard Troy DeVries opened scoring with a 3-pointer, but after that the Lobos struggled, playing catch-up throughout the rest of the game.
But despite the outrageous number of early turnovers, UNM was within two points midway through the first half, when Chiotti created a three-point play by driving, scoring and drawing the foul.
Every player on the Falcons' roster scored in the first period and toward the end, Air Force went on an 11-point run and led 34-23 at half time.
The second period only got worse for the Lobos. Air Force forward Nick Welch killed UNM's hopes for a comeback, connecting on four of five 3-point attempts for 16 points. The Falcons were good for 75 percent of their shots in the second half.
"That was the most embarrassing thing most of us have ever been through in our careers," forward Danny Granger said. "That's a game where you never want to have that feeling again. That's the worst feeling you've ever had in your life."
Granger, who finished with a season-low 15 points and eight rebounds, said UNM didn't play out a new defensive scheme the way they were supposed to. Senior Javin Tindall agreed.
"We played man. We played zone and they always brought it to us," Tindall said.
