It was a game of second chances.
Unfortunately for the UNM men's basketball team, it couldn't take advantage of the ones it was given.
In the Lobos' conference home opener, they let a second-half lead slip and fell to San Diego State 72-67.
Head coach Steve Alford attributed the loss to UNM's trouble with rebounding and giving up second-chance points.
"The difference in the game was board play," Alford said. "We just really got smacked around on the boards, and we know that's a really big issue with our team. We just don't have enough guys that can get rebounds, and I think that really flared up tonight."
The Lobos also struggled to make free throws - knocking down only 50 percent - while SDSU made 76 percent.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Both teams got off to a sluggish start, missing numerous shots and rebounds. It wasn't until more than three minutes into the game that the Lobos got on the board with a Daniel Faris layup.
The shot riled up the fans and set a fire under the Lobos who rallied to take the largest lead of the game at 24-10 with 8:29 left in the first half.
UNM was dominant on defense, holding SDSU's leading scorer, forward Lorrenzo Wade, to just four points in the first half.
As the teams headed into the locker room, the Lobos held a 33-25 advantage.
When the Aztecs returned from the break, they came out swinging. Within five minutes of play, they took the lead as UNM struggled to get rebounds and make shots.
SDSU finished off the Lobos by forcing fouls and scoring 13 of 14 free throws in the final 1:10 to hand UNM its first conference loss.
The Lobos may have struggled off the boards as a whole, but senior guard J.R. Giddens racked up his fifth double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Giddens, who grabbed just one of his rebounds after halftime, said SDSU outworked the Lobos.
"They were just tougher than us tonight," Giddens said. "We rebounded poorly in the second half, and they ended up knocking down free throws and getting second-chance points. That's their best offense because they're a big athletic team, and we knew what we had to do to stop them and we didn't get it done."
Wade capitalized on UNM's off night, scoring 23 points, 19 of which were in the second half.
Alford said the Lobos couldn't find a way to stop Wade.
"They're a very athletic team," Alford said. "And I think you saw their athleticism - Wade in particular. They got to a lot of loose balls. They just really did a good job on the backboards."
Faris said he took responsibility for the trouble on the boards that led to the loss.
"It's a tough loss because I know that I had a big part of it, being one of the bigs," Faris said. "I didn't rebound like I should have, and it's just hard to come back and lose a home game like this in front of all our fans."
The loss moves the Lobos to 1-1 in conference play and 14-3 on the season.
The Lobos will be on the road again versus TCU on Tuesday and head back home Friday where they will face Air Force.
Giddens said he hopes the fans will come out and support them again.
"Hopefully, they'll show up next game, because I guarantee you they'll get a better effort out of the Lobos," he said.
Men's basketball at TCU
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Fort Worth, Texas
