The Rio Grande Rivalry heats up tonight, when the men’s basketball team takes on New Mexico State in a series dominated by the Lobos as of late.
“This is going to be my ninth game in the rivalry,” head coach Steve Alford said. “We’ve had a lot of good games and I’ve enjoyed that rivalry through four years.”
In those four years, Alford’s Lobos are 7-1 against the Aggies, including 4-0 at home in the Pit.
Alford, now in his fifth year at UNM, said this year’s Aggie team is the deepest and most athletic team he will coach against.
The Lobos’ front-court manhandled its opponents in the first two exhibition games and regular season opener, but Alford said size won’t be an advantage for UNM Wednesday night at the Pit.
“New Mexico State might be the biggest team we play all year,” Alford said. “They’re huge. It’s going to be night and day from that standpoint.”
Sophomore guard Kendall Williams said the Aggies will challenge the Lobos.
“This will be our first real test,” Williams said. “It’s exciting that it’s against our rivals.”
NMSU has 11 players taller than 6’ 5” on its roster, including 6-foot-6-inch senior forward Wendell McKines, who missed the entire 2010-2011 season due to an injury.
“He’s just a tremendous talent,” Alford said of McKines. “He’s somebody that can really be an explosive double-double guy for them.”
Last season, sophomore guard Jamal Fenton played his first rivalry game in Las Cruces, but he said he doesn’t remember the game.
Fenton suffered a concussion in the game, taking a knee to the face from NMSU’s Christian Kabongo.
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“This year I hope I don’t get a concussion, so I’ll remember,” Fenton said.
The Lobos won that game 84-78 in overtime. One week later, UNM swept the season series by beating the Aggies again at the Pit, 78-62.
The teams have played 206 times since 1904. UNM leads the all-time series 112-94, including a 70-36 record at home.
UNM is currently riding a 21-game non-conference winning streak at home. The last non-conference loss at the Pit was on Jan. 6, 2009 against the University of Texas, El Paso.
Conference realignments across the country have left the MWC with fewer members this season.
The Lobos have a school-record 16 non-conference games scheduled because of the shift, allowing the Lobo to face the Aggies twice this season.
Alford said playing the Aggies twice a season is special for both programs.
“It’s probably the two times of the year you forget about RPI, you forget about how teams are doing,” Alford said. “It’s a great rival.”
Both teams won their season openers last Saturday. UNM beat New Orleans 92-40 at home and the Aggies took down Northern Colorado 89-75 on the road.
Fenton said the game will come down to mental toughness.
“To win the game, it’s going to be whoever makes less mistakes and who’s going to be smarter,” he said.
Men’s Basketball
vs.
New Mexico State
Wednesday, 8 p.m.
The Pit
