Mark Walters built the lead and Kris Collins kept it as the Lobos beat Duquesne 82-74 to cap the NABC Classic.
The Lobos are 3-0, their best start since the 1998-99 season.
UNM built an early cushion for themselves after going up 17-11 early in the game. They never gave up their lead, but Duquesne refused to be blown out.
The Dukes managed to keep the score relatively close throughout the contest, but they couldn't get stops when they needed to.
"We didn't have the same success (as our first two games)," head coach Ritchie McKay said. "But when we could've gotten down on ourselves, we just stuck with it. There was no head hanging."
Walters put on a show at the offensive end. He hit a baseline jumper to start the game, then added two three-pointers and two tough lay-ins despite a hounding defense.
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At the eight-minute mark of the first half, he had 12 of the Lobos' 20 points.
"Mark's been tremendous," McKay said. "He's a different player this year because of his maturity."
Collins started the game at point guard, but didn't go to work until the second half. The junior transfer had a steal and floating lay-up to start the second half and later began dissecting the Duke defense, breaking down his defender and getting to the bucket seemingly at will.
"I was just playing my game," he said. "I was getting to the hole and got myself some easy finishes."
Collins and Walters tied for the team-high in points with 19.
If there was an exclamation point to the win for the Lobos, it came with just minutes left when Walters crossed his man over and drove hard to the hoop. Rather than laying up or trying for a foul, he hit a cutting David Chiotti, who threw down a thunderous and-one dunk that brought The Pit crowd to its feet.
Alfred Neale hit all four of his three-point attempts and finished with 17 points.
Danny Granger had an off night, hitting 3-of-8 shot attempts. After being congratulated for a good game by one of the assistant coaches, Granger shrugged and replied, "I missed like 10 free throws."
In actuality, he missed six of his 13 attempts from the stripe.
In the first two games of their home-opening stand, the Lobos beat North Carolina A&T 75-59 and Santa Clara 93-59.
