sports@dailylobo.com
The New Mexico men avoided their third straight loss Saturday night with a 75-68 win over Marquette at the MGM Grand Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. The Lobos lost their previous two games against Kansas and New Mexico State.
Lobo Freshman guard Cullen Neal scored a game-high 24 points, mostly coming from the 3-point line. He hit six of his eight attempts from the arc. Forward Cameron Bairstow added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lobos (8-3), while guards Kendall Williams and Deshawn Delaney netted 14 and 10, respectively. Delaney posted a double-double as well with 10 rebounds.
Guard Jake Thomas led the Golden Eagles with 17 points, followed by forward Jamil Wilson with 15 and guard Todd Mayo with 10.
Marquette (7-5) held a 37-30 lead heading into halftime before UNM outscored the Golden Eagles 45-31 in the second half.
The Lobos finished 24 of 55 from the field (43.6 percent), 9 of 24 from the 3-point line (35.7 percent) and 18 of 24 from the free throw line (75 percent). Marquette was 26 of 57 from the field (45.6 percent), 7 of 19 from the arc (36.8 percent) and 9 of 14 from the foul line (64.3 percent).
New Mexico junior point guard Hugh Greenwood missed his second consecutive game with an injured right wrist.
UNM returns to action Monday with a home game against Grand Canyon. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at The Pit.
