by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
On any given night, Mark Walters and David Chiotti are capable of taking over a game for the Lobos.
In Saturday's win against Utah, it was the unheralded players that got the ball rolling for UNM.
While Chiotti and Walters played to their usual high standard, the Lobos received key contributions from previously unfamiliar faces. Forward Joel Box made his first start as a Lobo, and he was a big factor in one of the team's most balanced victories of the season.
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Against the giant Utah post, Box made big play after big play for UNM. The transfer finished the game with a season-high 12 points while grabbing five rebounds. Box also made a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball, finishing with two steals and one block. What didn't show up in the box score was the attitude Box brought to the defense. He was a big reason why UNM held Utah to 21 points in the first half in addition to forcing 13 turnovers.
Though Box has received little playing time this season, he stepped up in a game head coach Ritchie McKay described as vital to the Lobos' chances of making noise in the Mountain West Conference.
McKay said Box got the opportunity to start and played well Saturday because of the effort he has put into practice lately.
"Joel has practiced really well," McKay said. "He'll be the first to tell you that his improvement is directly related to how hard he's worked."
While Box adequately filled his role as a starter, Kyle Prochaska came off the bench to provide another spark for the Lobos.
Prochaska scored nine points and grabbed five offensive rebounds. He also contributed to the swarming defense of UNM.
The five offensive rebounds Prochaska recorded is a season high for any Lobo player. Walters, who leads the team in scoring, said he was thrilled with the way Prochaska, Box and the rest of the team played Saturday.
Walters said the fact the team is receiving help from each player should build the Lobos' confidence for the rest of the season.
"It's great," Walters said. "Down the stretch it's going to be huge for other guys to step up. The end of the season is when you're supposed to play your best basketball."
Prochaska displayed his aggressiveness in the Utah game, fighting for tough rebounds and getting in the Utes' faces on defense. He is the type of player McKay values because of his work ethic and willingness to throw his body around.
"Kyle is one of those junkyard dog-type players," McKay said. "He is one that not many will account for in the scouting report. He is a luxury to have on the team."
Prochaska said he is pleased with the way he played and hopes he and the team will carry the momentum from the victory over Utah throughout the rest of the season. Prochaska said UNM was successful against Utah partly because of the spirit they played with.
"I think we definitely came out with a lot more energy," he said. "We just got our confidence going on offense and it was good to come out and play like that."
