No hugs - let alone handshakes - were shared after the UNM men's basketball team's 60-58 win over Southern Mississippi on Saturday at The Pit.
And for that reason, there were almost some hand pounds - of another sort.
"I was fired up," head coach Steve Alford said. "It was really about the handshake line - not getting handshakes from players."
As both teams headed up the ramp, coaching staff had to restrain players from turning a war of words into fisticuffs. Even Alford had to be held back.
"I might have said a couple things," Alford said. "I've been on the losing end, and I've had to shake everybody's hand. So, when I'm on the winning end, I want winning handshakes, too."
Extracurricular activities aside, Saturday's game was an old-fashioned slugfest, with the Golden Eagles leading 34-25 at halftime.
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After getting torched by USM's penetration, generated by its dribble-drive offense, UNM switched to the 2-3 zone, forcing the Golden Eagles to take perimeter shots.
The Golden Eagles didn't take advantage of UNM's soft exterior defense and attempted only seven 3-pointers.
And like stone masons, UNM steadfastly chipped away at what was once an 11-point second-half lead.
Even an unusual amount of charging fouls that could have skewered UNM's focus didn't detract from the Lobos' will to win.
UNM point guard Dairese Gary credited the coaching staff for keeping the Lobos composed.
"It's very difficult (to stay focused)," Gary said. "Especially for a player like me and Tony - people that like to attack the basket. Every time you go (into the paint), you're getting a charge here or a charge there. But that's where coaches come in and keep you calm, and you stick together and come out with a win."
With 14:54 left in the second half, a technical foul was called on USM's bench, and 13 seconds later, Chad Toppert hit a 3-pointer to pull the Lobos within three at 43-40. Toppert finished with 13 points.
From there, UNM got its swagger back.
The Golden Eagles surged ahead again by eight points with a little more than 10 minutes to play, but the Lobos scrapped back to within six, until back-to-back treys by Toppert evened the score at 50 with 6:20 left.
UNM kept the margin manageable, eventually taking a 58-57 lead with 1:54 after Danridge converted a 3-point play to put the Lobos up for the first time since the 12:35 mark in the first half. Danridge had a game-high 19 points.
Two crucial blocks by Faris preserved the Lobos' lead, but Gary fouled USM's Jeremy Wise, who then tied the game at 58 from the line.
But a determined Gary got to the free-throw line and sunk USM's ship - and the Lobos waved bon voyage.
"We've been in some tight games," Alford said. "We've been ahead or right there in every game, and we haven't won very many of them. (So), to be behind, to trail basically the whole game and come back and win ... I thought we took a step forward in the toughness category."
