by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
After Aaron Johnson led the Big 10 in rebounding for Penn State his junior year, fans expected him to be a force on the boards for the UNM men's basketball team.
In Tuesday's 78-54 win over Kansas State, Johnson did not disappoint.
Johnson finished with a game-high 14 rebounds while chipping in 10 points for a double-double.
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Despite the fact that Johnson racked up 14 rebounds in 27 minutes of play, he was not satisfied.
"I was mad that I didn't get 20 rebounds, because that's what I wanted to do tonight," he said. "I promised a couple people I'd get 20. That's what I look at. I think if I control the glass and do my part, it gives us just that much more of a percentage to win."
Kansas State was supposed to be the toughest team the Lobos have had to face so far this season.
However, thanks in large part to a stingy defense, the Lobos sent another team home with a 20-plus-point loss, the fourth time they have done so this season.
Kansas State's 54 points is tied for the lowest score UNM has allowed this year.
UNM's rebounding, particularly on the defensive end, was a big part of the reason Kansas State didn't score more points.
Johnson and J.R. Giddens led the Lobos in rebounding. Giddens also had a double-double after he scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Of Johnson's game-high 14 rebounds, 11 were from the defensive end. Meanwhile, all 12 of Giddens' rebounds were defensive.
Ritchie McKay said Johnson and Giddens were important in the win.
"A.J. (Aaron Johnson) was great on the boards," he said. "We expect it from those two. They've been in big games. They understand what it is to compete at this level."
Although scoring is important to Johnson, he goes into each game focusing on rebounding.
"If they can't get rebounds, then they only have one opportunity to shoot," he said. "I was just trying to do my best."
McKay said a key part to Johnson's game is staying loose and having fun on the court.
"I think he might lead the league in hand waves to the crowd," McKay said. "He's got to be averaging about seven of those a game."
Johnson said when he's on top of his game, he is confident he can outrebound anybody on the floor.
"I got about a 70-inch vertical," he said. "But it's not about jumping, it's not about strength - it's all about your swagger to it."
Thanks in part to rebounding, the Lobos had one of their most impressive defensive efforts of the season.
Kansas State took a whopping 70 shots but only connected on 20.
McKay said he was proud of how his team forced Kansas State into so many misses.
"Defensively, we were tremendous tonight," McKay said. "Kansas State's an excellent defensive team, very well coached. But the way our guys executed our defense for the fourth game of the season was a great job."
Johnson said it was one of the most complete games UNM has put together this year.
"That was the best team we've played so far," he said. "I think the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team is that we put people away when we have a chance."
Although he is happy with the win, Johnson is going to keep working to try and get 20 rebounds in a game and lead the Mountain West Conference in boards.
"It's a big deal. That's my goal," he said. "We'll see what happens as the year goes on. It's not hard. I think I could average that if I got 38 minutes a game."
