Sports - The Daily Lobo

Lobo junior center J.J. Nâ€™Ganga sits on the court after falling backward during the game against USC at the Pit on Sunday afternoon. The Lobos lost to USC 66-54.

Sports

Men's basketball: Trojan invaders sack Pit

Kyle Tomasi | December 1

The new-look New Mexico men's basketball team had a hard time finding its rhythm in Sunday's game against the USC Trojans. UNM played nine men, five of whom are new to the program this year. The Lobos lost 66-54 in front of a season-high 14,404 fans. "That was a tough one; that was probably the worst one since I've been here in eight years," said second-year head coach Craig Neal."But give (USC) credit, they made plays and we didn't make plays. We did everything that we thought we could do."

New Mexico wide receiver Carlos Wiggins celebrates after scoring the touchdown that gave the Lobos the lead during the game against Wyoming on Saturday. Wigginsâ€™ 97 yards kickoff return for the touchdown was the fourth of his career, a school and Mountain West record.

Sports

Football: Home victory caps off rocky season

Thomas Romero-Salas | December 1

As it had all season long, New Mexico's defense looked like it was about to break at the wrong time. After UNM failed to convert on fourth-and-2 at Wyoming's 29-yard line, the â€¨Cowboys had just 59 seconds and 64 yards to steal victory away from the Lobos, who were up 36-30. On the third play of the drive third-and-10, no less quarterback Colby Kirkegaard hit receiver Tanner Gentry down the right sideline for a gain of 44 yards, setting up first-and-goal at UNM's 5-yard line. A false-start penalty followed by two incompletions and a six-yard pass put the Cowboys in a fourth-and-goal situation.

Sports

Two Lobos injured during tournament

Kyle Tomasi | November 26

After a tough go in Puerto Rico, the New Mexico menâ€™s basketball team is hoping to fix many of the problems that have been troubling them when it returns to The Pit to face USC.

New Mexico right side hitter senior Chantale Riddle cheers after scoring on Tuesday night at Johnson Gym against Air Force. Riddle captured the Mountain West all-time career kill record on senior night.

Sports

Riddle leads MW in kills after setting record

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 26

There is a new leader at the peak of the Mountain West record books. In a three-set sweep over Air Force by the scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-18, Chantale Riddle collected 22 kills ending her UNM career with 1,623 total kills beating out previous record holder Kim Turner who had 1,619.

New Mexico linebacker Javarie Johnson and defensive back Ryan Santos celebrate a touchdown during the game against Boise State on Nov. 8. The Lobos will play their final home game on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Wyoming at University Stadium.

Sports

Seniors strive for one last football win

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 26

Record-wise, the difference between three and four wins for a football team is minimal at best. But for New Mexico, a win Saturday against Wyoming will be the step in the right direction for a program that has been at or near the bottom of college football for the past several years. That fact isnâ€™t lost on any of the players or head coach Bob Davie heading into Saturdayâ€™s regular season finale at University Stadium.

Lobo junior guard Bryce Owens signals to her team during the game against Stanford at the Pit on Monday night. The Lobos will host Boston University on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Pit.

Sports

Lobos open weekend tournament with four losses

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 26

New Mexico will take a break from playing ranked opponents in search of its first win of the 2014 campaign. After three consecutive games against top-25 teams, the Lobos (0-4) will face off against Boston University (2-2) on Friday night at 7 p.m. to open its annual Thanksgiving Tournament. Stephen F. Austin and UC Riverside will also make the trip to Albuquerque to compete in the tournament.

Lobo redshirt senior guard Antiesha Brown wipes her face after missing all of her free throws during the last minute of the game against Stanford at the Pit on Monday night. Despite a potential upset, the Lobos lost to Stanford 70-65.

Sports

Lobo upset bid falls short against Stanford

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 25

The stage was set for New Mexico to upset the No. 5 Stanford. The Lobos were down 66-65 as guard Antiesha Brown stepped to the line with two free throw attempts and only 20 seconds left in the contest. Brown sent both off of the iron and UNM lost 70-65 to Stanford on Monday night at The Pit.

Sports

Lobos lose competitive edge against Rams

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 24

For the first time this season New Mexico was outclassed from start to finish. After being competitive in almost every game this season, No. 22 Colorado State dismantled UNM 58-22 in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday. Rams running back Dee Hart ran for a career-high 230 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving). It’s the second straight year that a Colorado State tailback scored six touchdowns against UNM. Former CSU halfback Kapri Bibbs did it last year.

Sports

Sports briefs for Nov. 24

November 24

Volleyball The New Mexico volleyball team lost in five sets at Fresno State on Friday night. The set scores were 18-25, 26-24, 25-22, 22-25 and 14-16. UNM blew a 3-1 set advantage over Fresno State. In the fifth set, Fresno State earned the victory with back-to-back kills.

New Mexico senior Charlotte Arter, right, hugs senior Chloe Anderson after the 2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday. Arter finished with a time of 20:29.9.

Sports

Runners pass Lobo landmark

Staff Report | November 24

The New Mexico women’s cross country team earned third place at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Saturday, recording the program’s highest finish ever. Redshirt freshman Alice Wright finished 20th with a time of 20 minutes, 29.1 seconds, and senior Charlotte Arter placed 22nd, clocking in at 20:29.9. Both runners earned All-American honors. Arter became the second back-to-back All-American since Carole Roybal from 1984-86.

Sports

Aggies rally to overtake UNM in second half

Kyle Tomasi | November 24

Missing its leading scorer, the New Mexico men’s basketball team dropped its second game of the season to Texas A&M in the fifth-place game of the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Sunday. The Lobos (3-2) led 31-26 at halftime but couldn’t stop a second-half rally by the Aggies. The Aggies defeated the Lobos 64-51 behind Danuel House’s 18 points, 11 coming in the second half.

Lobo freshman guard Cherise Beynon dribbles past Eastern New Mexico defenders during the exhibition game at the Pit on Nov. 9. The Lobos will host top-ranked Stanford at 7 p.m. tonight at the Pit.

Sports

Lobo women prepare for toughest challenge yet

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 24

The New Mexico women’s basketball team has played two top-25 teams in the opening three games, but will face its best opponent to date. That will occur today against No. 1 Stanford. It will be the first time in UNM’s history that it will face three straight ranked opponents in a single season. “If you’re a competitor, you just want to win,” head coach Yvonne Sanchez said. “We play to win and we prepare to win.”

Sports

Goodman sparks Lobos past George Mason

November 22

On a night where sophomore guard Cullen Neal did not play due to an ankle injury and senior guard Hugh Greenwood struggled shooting the ball, the New Mexico men’s basketball team found a new star in the making. Junior college transfer Jordan Goodman scored a career-high 19 points on 7-10 shooting from the floor as UNM defeated the George Mason Patriots 69-58 in the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off. It looked as if Goodman wanted to silence a lot of critics after not producing too much in the first three games.

Sports

Lobos fall to Boston College in season's first setback

Kyle Tomasi | November 21

The New Mexico men’s basketball team faced some of the adversity head coach Craig Neal has talked about on Thursday afternoon against Boston College. Early foul trouble with guard Devon Williams and center Obij Aget forced Neal to play some of the new faces in a 69-65 loss to the Eagles at the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

New Mexico women’s soccer head coach Kit Vela answers questions from the media at the Tow Diehm Athletics Center on Aug. 20. UNM announced on Thursday that it will not retain Vela for the 2015 season.

News

Kit Vela's contract will not be renewed

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 21

New Mexico will take on a national party to search for a new women’s soccer head coach after the Lobos announced Kit Vela’s contract won’t be renewed. Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs released a statement Thursday afternoon thanking Vela and her staff for their efforts, but said it was time to take the team in a new direction. "At this time, we have decided to not renew the contract for Kit Vela,” Krebs said in the release.

New Mexico linebacker Ryan Langford (20) and defensive end William Udeh (92) stop Boise State running back Jay Ajayi (27) during the game on Nov. 8. Colorado State will host New Mexico on Saturday in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the Lobos will look to spoil the No. 22 Rams’ season.

Sports

Lobos hope to play spoiler for Colorado State

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 21

The stakes for New Mexico and Colorado State in Saturday’s game could not be more different. For the Lobos, it’s their final chance to beat a quality opponent and show more signs of an improving football team.

New Mexico redshirt freshman Alice Wright approaches the finish line in the 2014 Women’s NCAA Division 1 Mountain Region Cross Country Championships on Nov. 14. Wright took first place by five seconds with time of 20:51.10.

Sports

Runner overcomes injury to win regional athlete of the year

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 21

Redshirt freshman Alice Wright crossed the Atlantic Ocean to join an elite group of cross country runners in the Mountain Region. Wright, the NCAA Division I Mountain Region Female Athlete of the Year, said she had never seen New Mexico’s campus before hopping on a plane to the Land of Enchantment after finishing high school. “I want to say it’s the best decision that I have ever made,” said Wright, a native of Worcester, England.. “I came here completely alone.

Former Lobo redshirt senior center Ebony Walker holds two basketballs while waiting to start a passing drill during Lobo Howl at the Pit on Oct. 17. Women’s basketball head coach Yvonne Sanchez announced that Walker has been released from the team following her arrest for a domestic dispute earlier this month.

News

Basketball: Walker dismissed after domestic violence arrest

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 20

The New Mexico women’s basketball team will remain without its starting center for the 2014-15 season. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez dismissed Ebony Walker from the team after Walker was charged with domestic violence following an alleged altercation with Tredarius Moten on Nov. 4. “The decision was made with thoughtful consideration for Ebony and our basketball program,” Sanchez said.

Lobo senior guard Hugh Greenwood, 3, attempts to run past Titan redshirt junior guard Alex Harris, 23, during the game against Cal State Fullerton at the Pit on Sunday night. The Lobos are playing three games at a tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico from Thursday to Sunday.

Sports

Lobos bound for Puerto Rico basketball tourney

Kyle Tomasi | November 19

The New Mexico men’s basketball team will play its first game away from The Pit this week when it faces Boston College in the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

New Mexico quarterback Lamar Jordan breaks away during the game against San Diego State on Oct. 10. The Lobos’ offense has shown improvement this season but the defense is still an area of concern.

Sports

Football team continues to improve despite setbacks

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 19

Wins and losses don’t always tell the entire story. New Mexico has been competitive for almost every game this season, but has failed to beat quality teams and is now 3-7 on the year, 1-5 Mountain West.