The New Mexico men’s and women’s track teams swept the team titles at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday. The victory was the second in two years for the men, and the first such title for the women.
Former New Mexico goalkeeper Michael Lisch signed to play for the Houston Dynamo, the Major League Soccer franchise announced Wednesday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to a release from the Dynamo, citing club and league policy.
Had No. 25 New Mexico lost to Utah State Tuesday night after being down by eight points, Saturday night’s win over Mountain West leading San Diego State likely would have been for naught. But the Lobos kicked it into another level in the final 10 minutes, rallying past the Aggies for a 67-58 win.
Typically, offense has carried the New Mexico baseball team. Through two weeks of the 2014 season, the Lobos’ pitching staff has changed that narrative.
Late game loses have been a reoccurring nightmare for the New Mexico women’s basketball team this year. After a 65-67 loss to Utah State (12-15, 6-10 MW) on Wednesday night, the Lobos have now dropped nine of their last 10 games that have been decided by two possessions or less.
New Mexico women’s basketball head coach Yvonne Sanchez has talked about how ill-timed fouls have plagued the Lobos this season. UNM’s last foul at Utah State on Wednesday exemplified that problem.
For two-thirds of Tuesday night’s game, The Pit did not have the same electric atmosphere as it had Saturday night when New Mexico knocked off then-No. 6 San Diego State. That changed midway through the second half when the No. 25 Lobos came back from an eight-point deficit
Thanks to a complete game shutout by Preseason All American pitcher Josh Walker, UNM defeated Missouri State 7-0 in the first game of the double-header on Sunday at Lobo Field. Walker gave up just five hits and struck out three batters. The next game versus Northern Illinois ended in a 3-3 tie after 10 innings because the Huskies had to catch their flight home. It was the first tie for UNM since Feb. 22, 2004 against Northwestern.
For most of the season, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year debate has been centered on two players: New Mexico forward Cameron Bairstow and San Diego State guard Xavier Thames. Neither one was able to take an edge in the argument until Saturday night when the Lobos dominated the No. 6 Aztecs 58-44 at The Pit. With the win, UNM (21-5 overall) and SDSU (23-3) are now tied atop the league standings with identical 12-2 Mountain West records.
Over the last couple weeks, New Mexico men’s basketball coach Craig Neal said that some have not given his team enough credit about its win over Cincinnati, a foe receiving votes at the time but ranked seventh last week. A dominating win over the sixth-ranked team in the country should go a long way to rectify that.
The New Mexico women fell to 9-16 on the season, 4-10 in Mountain West play, after a 53-48 loss to San Diego State on Saturday at Viejas Arena in San Diego. Guard Antiesha Brown led UNM in scoring with 15 points, followed by forward Deeva Vaughn with 14 points. The Lobos started the game with a scoreless slump over the first 2:58, missing their first two shots and committing three turnovers.
The New Mexico women’s basketball team is looking for some positive momentum heading down the stretch. With only five games remaining before the Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., head coach Yvonne Sanchez said that she is not worried about her team’s ability to turn things around.
Lobo basketball fans have been buzzing about this Saturday’s game against No. 6 San Diego State for weeks now, but New Mexico men’s head coach Craig Neal said, “It’s another game.” Just another game?
It will be a homecoming of sorts for the New Mexico baseball team on Friday. UNM will host the Lobo Invite at Lobo Field this weekend, which will mark the first time the venue will hold a home opener since the 2003 season.
Lobo guard Kendall Williams scored a game-high 27 points in New Mexico’s 68-56 victory over UNLV Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Despite late turnovers and poor free throw shooting, the New Mexico women’s basketball team finally got a close game to end in its favor. UNM (9-15, 4-9 Mountain West) ended a three-game losing streak, beating the UNLV Lady Rebels 65-58 Wednesday night at The Pit.
A reporter on Monday asked Craig Neal what is needed to win at UNLV this time around. The first three words the New Mexico men’s basketball coach gave were simple, yet direct. “Score more points,” he said.
The defensive side of the ball has caused problems for the New Mexico women’s basketball team, particularly in the late game. Take UNM’s last contest at Nevada this past Saturday. The Lobos held a 73-71 lead with less than a minute remaining, but let the Wolf Pack come back to win with a 4-0 run.
The top two scoring threats in the Mountain West went toe-to-toe Saturday afternoon at The Pit. Advantage: Cameron Bairstow. New Mexico basketball’s senior forward moved into the top spot in the conference’s scoring title chase after hitting 24 points in the Lobos’ 90-72 win over Nevada, staying on San Diego State’s heels in the conference standings.
New Mexico head track and field coach Joe Franklin said he was lucky to have distance runner Elmar Engholm at UNM. It was easy to see how fortunate the Lobos were to have Engholm on Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center for the Don Kirby Elite Invitational.
Solutions by The State News
