It was the "Hustle and Flow" show at The Pit on Tuesday against in-state rival NMSU, but there was no Terrence Howard. Instead, the two star performers were Roman Martinez and Tony Danridge.
Martinez said Danridge's flow - that high-flying energy Danridge brings to the table - sends The Pit into a frenzy.
"I always appreciated what The Pit has done," Martinez said. "The fans are amazing, and it gives that extra boost. I can see on the floor on the players we play against. It's an intimidating factor."
Danridge and Martinez finished the night with a combined 37 points and shared two steals apiece to help the Lobos defeat the Aggies 76-62.
"I think it was one of Tony's overall better games," head coach Steve Alford said. "He defended, rebounded and passed the ball well. He scored and gets 22 points on 10 shots. He is very efficient that way. But importantly, he led his team tonight."
Danridge, with his ability to maintain the flow of the game, capped a night against NMSU with 22 points, seven boards, three assists, two blocks .
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The seven rebounds was a career-high for Danridge.
Following a Daniel Faris block with 2:15 to go in the game, Danridge picked up the loose ball and dashed his way to the basket, abusing the rim with a one-handed jam.
"(Danridge) sparks us as a team," Martinez said. "It gives me incentive to battle, especially with him being our senior leader."
NMSU head coach Marvin Menzies said Martinez's hustle gave the Aggies problems.
"He's is a class act and just comes across as a solid and mature kid," Menzies said. "He is a program kid. He is one of those guys that probably couldn't have went to Duke out of high school, but I can tell you there are days that coach (Mike Krzyzewski) wouldn't mind having him around."
Martinez scored 15 points, had four assists and led all Lobos with nine rebounds.
Martinez was 1-of-3 from 3 on the night, but none proved to be bigger than the one he hit with 10:37 left in the game.
After NMSU center Hamidu Rahman cut the UNM lead to three, Martinez hit a trey off a Dairese Gary assist to put the Lobos up 52-46.
Down the stretch, it was "Hustle and Flow" that put it away.
With 2:11 left, Danridge took an errant pass down the length of the court and stylishly hammered one home to put the Lobos up 70-59.
It was the flow of Danridge that cut of the Aggies' circulation and any hope getting victory No. 6.
