by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
It may not have been the toughest competition it will face, but the UNM men's basketball team put on an offensive showcase Thursday at The Pit.
In a 98-42 exhibition win over Western New Mexico, the Lobo defense didn't look too shabby, either.
UNM head coach Ritchie McKay said he was happy with the liveliness his team showed.
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"I thought we played with great energy tonight," he said. "This is an enthusiastic group that is fun to coach, fun to be around. I think you can get a glimpse of how excitable our guys are."
Lobo fans got a small glimpse of junior transfer J.R. Giddens, who did not disappoint.
Giddens finished the game with 20 points in just 16 minutes on 8-of-11 shooting. He also showed flashes of his athleticism with a powerful dunk in the second half.
Giddens said he was a little nervous in his UNM debut after having to watch last season's games from the bench.
"I had a lot of jitters," he said. "I woke up from our little pregame nap, and I kind of had some butterflies in my stomach. I'm trying to be calm and poised, but I was a little jittery."
McKay said he's not surprised with the way Giddens played.
"J.R.'s good," he said. "I may have mentioned that before. I think he can play at a very high level."
Fellow UNM transfer Aaron Johnson said he was excited about how the team played, especially Giddens and his
high-flying act.
"Superman was unbelievable, and I just drove my car and did what I had to do as Batman," he said. "We came together, and we had fun."
Johnson also performed well, putting up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Although Giddens and Johnson get a lot of attention, the Lobos have depth this season, McKay said.
"We've got other good players," McKay said. "I think it's a fun team to watch."
Junior Tony Danridge was one of the other players who had a solid game. In 17 minutes, Danridge posted 12 points and four rebounds.
Johnson said the team is still working on a nickname for Danridge.
"Tony's Robin, but he's got more hops," Johnson said. "We got to find a superhero for him."
Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Ryan Kersten also posted double-digit figures, scoring 10 points and dishing out five assists in 16 minutes.
UNM outplayed Western New Mexico in almost every aspect of the game. The Lobos finished with 60 rebounds compared to 37 for the Mustangs.
UNM shot 48 percent from the field while holding Western New Mexico to just 20 percent shooting for the game.
Giddens said Thursday's exhibition was just a sign of things to come for the Lobos.
"We're going to be very exiting to watch," he said. "It'll just be rocking
and rolling."
