The University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team took a trip south to Las Cruces on Saturday, Nov. 15, where they came up short against their state rival, the New Mexico State University Aggies, losing 76-68.
The Aggies struck first during the Rio Grande Rivalry matchup, with New Mexico State guard Anthony Wrzeszcz sinking a three-point shot from the corner to thrill the home crowd.
Lobo forward Tomislav Buljan had a solid performance, picking up a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Other notable performances included guard Deyton Albury, who tallied 18 points, and freshman guard Uriah Tenette who, along with recording 13 points off the bench, demonstrated exceptional control of the ball in key moments.
The first half was relatively uneventful, with both teams getting off to a slow start and going into the half tied at 27. Soon after the break, both teams went on a scoring frenzy, with the Lobos and Aggies scoring over 40 points. Despite the surge, the Lobos were not able to get the best of the Aggies, losing 76-68.
This loss marks the first as a Lobo for Head Coach Eric Olen, who had a clear message after the loss.
“We’re going to keep getting better — back to work.” Olen said. “Losing is disappointing, losing this one’s extra disappointing, and we’ve got to play better going forward.”
The Lobos will look to rebound on Thursday, Nov. 20, when they take on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers during the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
John P. Hefti is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
