by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
UNM men's basketball player J.R. Giddens made his debut at The Pit a memorable one Saturday during Lobo Howl.
The annual event brings preseason entertainment for Lobo fans, with both the men's and women's teams competing in Cherry versus Silver scrimmages. The women follow with a three-point shootout and the men with a dunk contest.
While the fans got a chance to see what this year's teams look like, the night opened with a glimpse into the past.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
UNM brought back former Lobo basketball players from both the men's and women's teams to compete in the alumni games.
Giddens, a junior transfer from Kansas University, put on a show, giving the fans a taste of things to come.
While Giddens managed just one three-pointer in the scrimmage, he stole the show in the dunk contest. First he showed off his jumping ability by throwing the ball high off the backboard, catching it behind his head and slamming it through the hoop. Then he pulled off an amazing between-the-legs, behind-the-back slam that brought the estimated 4,500 fans in The Pit to their feet.
Giddens said he was excited to see his first action at The Pit.
"It was a good atmosphere," he said. "I could tell that they love basketball. I had a fun time. I can't wait to get out there and play."
In the men's cherry versus silver game, senior guard Mark Walters led the scorers with eight points. With the loss of seniors Danny Granger, Alfred Neale and Troy DeVries, Walters will have to step up and be a leader for the young team.
"There's always a lot of pressure when you're a senior and you got a lot of new guys - just bringing them along and helping them learn the offense and what we do with the program," Walters said.
Walters said he was excited to get back on the basketball court after the Lobos won the Mountain West Conference Championship last year.
"After a season like last season, which was a great accomplishment for us, makes us a little hungrier for more this year," he said. "Getting back out and having the fans there, we know it's getting started."
In the women's scrimmage, center Angela Hartill made a strong debut, leading all scorers with eight points. The true freshman from Washington joins the women's team that also won the MWC Championship last season.
In the three-point competition, senior Abbie Letz had the hot hand, defeating fellow guard and sophomore Brandi Kimble to win the shootout.
The women's alumni game featured a range of former Lobos, some who played at UNM as early as 1979 to as recent as last year.
Abby Garchek, who was a member of the women's team from 1994-98, had a monster game. Garchek scored a game-high 19 points, and played well on the defensive side while going up against Mandi Moore, one of last season's stars for UNM.
The men's alumni game started out looking like they were having a three-point competition of their own. There was a clear absence of defensive effort, and fans cheered and laughed as the players took open shot after open shot from the three-point line.
Notch Neves, who played from 1992-94, scored his first nine points from three-point range, and finished with 14 points.
Lewis Lamar, a UNM player from 1991-94, led all scorers in the men's alumni game with 16 points, and also got the crowd on its feet with a dunk.
The men open the regular season Nov. 18 at home against South Carolina State. The women get started against Oral Roberts on Nov. 11, also at home.
