Sports

Sports

Rivalry game will season freshman players

Ryan Tomari | December 3

The young UNM men’s basketball team might have hit its toughest road bump of the season so far into the early 2010-11 season: back-to-back away games. After annihilating Southern Illinois 74-59 Wednesday in Carbondale, Ill., the Lobos head down south to the Pan American Center. It’s now time for the rival. Head coach Steve Alford said the defense has and will be the key for UNM to dominate NMSU. “I think what you want to do as the best defense … is take away the best offense,” he said.

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News

UNM opens probe into nightclub incident

Isaac Avilucea | December 1

Little by little, the news continues to get worse for three UNM football players who were allegedly involved in a brawl at a downtown nightclub early Thanksgiving morning. The latest episode: Kim Kloeppel, with the Dean of Students, said the office is investigating the incident to determine whether UNM football players breached the University’s Student Code of Conduct in allegedly fighting with members of Lotus Nightlcub’s security staff. The three players, later identified as football players Julion Conley, Joe Harris and Bryant Williams, are a part of an on-campus fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Kloeppel said the office is also looking to determine if other fraternity members were involved in the scuffle. “At this time, I don’t have any specific answers as far as what the investigation has involved,” she said, adding that she would have more definitive information later this week. On top of that, Lotus Nightclub owner Brian Craig is threatening to file a civil complaint against the three players. He said it would have been a different story if his security were fully staffed the night of the incident.

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Sports

After historic season, team celebrates re-berth

Brandon Call | November 29

It’s tournament time for the UNM volleyball team – again. After finishing the regular season 20-11 and clinching second place in the Mountain West Conference with a program-best 12 conference wins, the Lobos received one of 33 at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament, marking the ninth postseason appearance in program history and UNM’s second-straight tournament trip. “I was in disbelief not seeing our name in the first 48 teams announced,” senior setter Jade Michaelsen said.

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Sports

Season ends with fumble at Frogs’ feet

Nathan Farmer | November 29

TCU looked like a BCS-contending team. The UNM football team spotted the third-ranked Horned Frogs an early 21-0 lead and fell 66-17 on Saturday at University Stadium.

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Sports

With Cal loss shaken off, momentum returns

Shaun Griswold | November 29

Blame the UNM men’s basketball team’s slow start on the holiday season hangover. Trailing by one point with 11 minutes left to play in the first half, UNM went on a 20-5 run that propelled the Lobos’ blowout win against San Diego 75-46 on Sunday afternoon.

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Sports

Coach shakes off loss, looks ahead

Ryan Tomari | November 29

If the UNM women’s basketball players didn’t know who Toni Young is, they sure do now. And the Lobos won’t forget her for a long time. Young, a 6-foot-2-inch forward, dominated the Lobos with 25 points and 10 boards helping the Cowgirls escape with a 74-65 double overtime victory at The Pit on Saturday. UNM’s head coach Don Flanagan said Young created nightmarish problems for the Lobos in the post.

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News

UNM football players suspended after downtown altercation

Isaac Avilucea | November 26

Three UNM football players have been suspended indefinitely from football-related activities for their alleged involvement in a downtown altercation at Lotus Nightclub early Thursday morning, the UNM Athletics Department announced Friday. Lobo backup linebacker Julion Conley, 22, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and engaging in a public affray, according to Metropolitan Court records.

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Sports

And the turkey leg goes to ...

Isaac Avilucea | November 24

Readers, let us join hands, gather around the table and contemplate the holiday season. Thanksgiving is but a day away, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to express my gratitude for three unfolding events in the sportsphere. I doubt I’m alone in saying that this is something we can all be thankful for — the UNM football team’s season is mercifully winding to a conclusion: The moribund Lobos close out another carnage-filled year against third-ranked TCU on Saturday at University Stadium. Not being a BCS expert, I did a little online legwork to find out if the Horned Frogs have a vested interest in pummeling the Lobos. What I found is this: The BCS is composed of six interactive polls, but the polls are no longer mathematically modeled to incorporate margin of victory when calculating rankings. The BCS did away with that system in 2002, abandoning use of polls that factored in margin of victory. So, in the strictest sense, no, TCU doesn’t have an obligation to baste the Lobos like a Thanksgiving turkey.

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Sports

Locksley: Be like a race horse

Ryan Tomari | November 24

Will the UNM football team end its season the same way it started? Well, the Lobos will find out Saturday. Undefeated and third-ranked TCU rolls into Albuquerque, and with some help from other teams around the country, the Horned Frogs could potentially find themselves in the BCS National Championship on Jan.

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Sports

Thanksgiving joy hinges on increased effort

Shaun Griswold | November 24

The UNM men’s basketball team is looking to stuff the first turkey on its schedule. The Lobos will try to rebound after getting romped by 25 points against California on Saturday. Now 2-1, the Lobos host Northwood, a Division II team from Michigan, today at 7 p.m. Head coach Steve Alford joked that his team must carve through its opponent in order to avoid holiday stress. “There might be no spread at all, if things don’t go well Wednesday,” Alford said.

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Sports

Can’t pen in paper champs

Steve Fernandez | November 24

The Miami Heat aren’t necessarily 8-6 because of the play of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t squarely blame the supposed super group for the uninspiring start. The newly formed trio produces well enough on the court.

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Sports

From hopeful to heartbreak

Nathan Farmer | November 22

After a surprising NCAA tournament invitation, the UNM men’s soccer team’s celebration quickly turned horrific.

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Sports

BYU romp a fond farewell

Ryan Tomari | November 22

The BYU Cougars said goodbye to its seniors and the Mountain West Conference on Saturday by dismantling the UNM football team 40-7. Head coach Mike Locksley said another loss hasn’t made it easier for the players or coaching staff. “You never go into a game expecting to lose,” he said.

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Sports

Cal vanquished in double-OT dandy

Nathan Farmer | November 22

The UNM women’s basketball team needed every second on the clock — and then some — to claw to its second victory of the season. In a double-overtime duel, the Lobos outlasted California 63-54 on Saturday at The Pit in a game where both teams combined for 41 turnovers. “We had an opportunity to win it in regulation,” head coach Don Flanagan said.

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Sports

Guard's play head above rest

Brandon Call | November 22

The bigger you are, the harder you fall. That saying is probably foreign to UNM freshman Jasmine Patterson. Patterson, who is listed at a generous 5-feet 7-inches in the Lobos’ media guide, looks even shorter when standing next to opposing post players as she did Saturday when the UNM women’s basketball team faced much-taller California. The Golden Bears listed seven players at 6 feet or taller. But that doesn’t bother Patterson.

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Sports

Bidding adieu to BYU

Ryan Tomari | November 18

It’s two lasts for the UNM football team. One: It’s the last road game of the season. Two: Saturday marks the last matchup with BYU while it’s still a Mountain West Conference member.

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Sports

Historic season ends in NCAA first round

Nathan Farmer | November 18

It was a one-in-a million-type season for the UNM women’s soccer team. For the first time in Lobo history, UNM reached the NCAA tournament, but fell to Notre Dame 3-0 in the first round. “Notre Dame was a tough place to go and play, but we did well,” head coach Kit Vela said.

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Sports

Defense ready for road game

Shaun Griswold | November 18

Defending conference champion? Check. One senior on a freshmen-stocked roster? Check. Dominate at home?

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Sports

UNM soccer heads NCAA

Nathan Farmer | November 18

The UNM men’s soccer team received an early Christmas gift. After losing to Cal State Bakersfield in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals, the Lobos season looked all but over. But UNM unexpectedly received one of the last at-large bids to the NCAA tournament on Monday. “It’s crazy,” midfielder Michael Green said.

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Sports

Sun Devils sink in Pit

Shaun Griswold | November 17

Another impressive display by another UNM freshman. Guard Kendall Williams shot 4-of-5 from the 3-point range and finished with 15 points to lead UNM (2-0) to a 76-62 victory over Arizona State at The Pit on Tuesday night.