LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The buzz of the horn sounded for the UNM men's basketball team as the clock expired.
And for the second time in as many years, the Lobos flat-lined, bowing out to Wyoming 75-67 in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Thursday.
"They just out-toughed us," Roman Martinez said.
Talk around the country suggested that if UNM won its first-round game, it had a strong chance to make the NCAA Tournament. The fact that the Lobos lost doesn't help their consideration, and UNM will have to hope its regular-season accolades are good enough.
In what has become a trend, sixth-seeded Cowboys eliminated the third-seeded Lobos, making it five straight years in the MWC Tournament that the lower seed has prevailed in a six-three matchup.
Dairese Gary was the Lobos' soldier in Thursday's give-all game. Gary had 20 points, seven coming in the final 1:50 of the game. Twice down the court, Gary slashed towards the basket, drawing the foul and completing one of his three-point plays.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"When shots aren't falling, he's the one we go to because he's a brute," Roman Martinez said. "When he drives the ball, he's not afraid to finish with the bigs. I think he's important defensive aspect for us, especially (his) toughness."
A pair of free throws by Gary at the 1:07 mark pulled the Lobos within six, while Tony Danridge narrowed the gap to four with two more freebies with 38 seconds left in the game.
But Brandon Ewing ushered the Pokes to victory, depositing two free throws of his own with 20 seconds left to put Wyoming up 73-67.
Ewing rose to the occasion Thursday, plastering the Lobos for 20 points and five assists. Ewing also chipped in two circus 3s, one where he pump faked, sidestepped his defender and double clutched.
"I think shots like that motivate a team," Ewing said. "Actually, I want to say thanks to my teammates. I didn't actually know the shot clock was going down. I just threw it up. I'm just thankful those shots went in."
Sean Ogirri had 17 points, while three other Cowboys scored in double figures. Tyson Johnson finished with 16; Afam Muojeke piled up 11; and Djibril Thiam added 10 points for the Pokes.
Tony Danridge had 13 points but was only 4-of-11 from the field. Daniel Faris finished with 12 points but fouled out with 6:25 left in the second half.
The lead changed four times in Thursday's contest. UNM held its last lead at 46-45 with 11:01 to go in the game, but the Pokes went on a 13-3 run, earmarked by a Ewing 3-pointer to spread the margin to 58-49 with 5:29 left.
Early in the second half, the Lobos seemed poised to snatch the game away from the Pokes. Jonathan Wills drew the Lobos within one after completing a three-point play. Gary followed it up by turning in a three-point play of his own to give UNM a 43-41 advantage.
The tide seemed to turn in the Lobos' favor when UNM rebounded the ball three straight misses and finished the possession with Gary nailing a free throw. Faris added two, giving the Lobos a 46-41 lead. However, Ogirri popped a trey to slice the margin to one.
"He's as good of a two-guard as there is in this league," Wyoming's Heath Schoyer said. "This isn't the time or place, but I'm shocked he isn't on one of the three (All-MWC) teams. That tells you alone what he's capable of doing. He has a great calm on the floor. He's been through it. He's a fifth-year senior.
Muojeke tomahawked home a two-handed jam, and the Pokes led 47-46 only to go up for good at 48-47 at the 9:01 mark.
"We missed some shots and they made some shots," assistant coach Craig Neal said. "They played hard. They pushed the issue. Johnson got inside and made some free throws. That's one of those things. I just feel really bad for our team, especially our seniors."
Neal handled media duties for head coach Steve Alford, who left the arena after the game to board a plane to Indiana for his mother-in-law's funeral. Hilda Frost died on Monday, but Alford wanted to coach his team before departing.
