For the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (6-2, 0-0 MWC), this week’s Roman Legends Classic told a tale of redemption. After getting routed by the 18th-ranked Auburn Tigers 84-59 Monday night, the Lobos bounced back Tuesday and locked down the Wisconsin Badgers 59-50 while securing their first win over a Power 5 conference team since 2012.
The University of New Mexico Athletic Director Eddie Nunez announced on Monday that head coach Bob Davie will be “parting ways” from the UNM football team at the conclusion of the 2019 season. "After meeting with Coach Davie this morning, we both agree that the time has come for a new direction for our football program," Nuñez said in a press release issued on Monday afternoon. "I'm appreciative of the work that coach Davie has done at UNM." The parting of ways comes after another unsuccessful season for the football program. The Lobos overall record is 2-9 with a losing streak of eight of those games after Saturday’s loss against Air Force (44-22).
On Tuesday, the University of New Mexico (5-0) played its fifth game at the University of Texas at El Paso (3-1). After a heated first quarter, the Lobos broke ahead and kept their distance to win the game 93-78 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso. The win continued the Lobo’s undefeated title after the UNM women brought down New Mexico State University over the weekend. The team defeated their Aggie rivals 86-67 with Jaedyn De La Cerda dominating in shooting for the Lobos. De La Cerda sunk 26 points and left the court with the most assists of anyone in the game.
Fresh off their first loss of the season Thursday night to UTEP, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (5-1, 0-0 MWC) bounced back with a last-minute 78-77 win against in-state rival New Mexico State University (2-3). A pair of late free throws by senior forward Carlton Bragg sealed UNM’s victory in a battle between the state’s only Division I programs. Thursday night’s matchup brought all the usual Rio Grande rivalry drama, with seven ties and 12 lead changes throughout the close contest. Neither team held a double-digit lead during the entirety of the game.
The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the season to the University of Texas-El Paso Miners in their first away game of the season — going down 66-63. UNM’s (3-1, 0-0 MWC) highly-touted offense sputtered against UTEP (4-0, 0-0 CUSA), scoring just 63 points after averaging over 90 points per game on the season. UNM’s offense got off to a slow start and faced a 10-1 deficit after ten unanswered UTEP points. This came just a game after the Lobos defeated McNeese State 14-4 last Saturday.
UFC fighter and Albuquerque native Holly Holm is taking time away from traveling to host a workout training benefiting IncredAble Adaptive MMA at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy. The event is centered around Holm guiding community members through workout techniques she uses to train as an MMA fighter. "Holly will take you through a 90 minute workout and show you some of the same moves she uses to stay fit," a press release describing the event said. "This is an event where you can go at your own pace or challenge yourself to keep up."
This season, University of New Mexico senior Ahmari Davis ran over 100 yards in three different games. During New Mexico’s game against Hawaii, he rushed for 200 yards total. According to Davis, that was also his favorite game of the season. “Certain games you feel it more than others, and I could say, that game I really just felt it.” Davis said about playing against Hawaii. “I felt my speed was coming back. I felt aggressive. That morning, I prayed and felt protected. I just felt like having fun that game. I ended up with 200 yards and two touchdowns. It was great.” Davis starts as running back for the football team. This season was his second year on the team and at UNM. He spent his freshman and sophomore year at Laney College in Oakland, California, Davis' home city.
The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team came away with a 93-78 victory against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Wednesday night at Dreamstyle Arena, aka The Pit. UNM (3-0, 0-0 MWC) remains undefeated, as its high-powered offense once again led the way. Senior guard JaQuan Lyle opened the game with a three pointer but was taken out after committing five turnovers in the first five minutes. The first half was a back-and-forth affair — Green Bay seized the lead with a 15-6 run, which UNM answered with a 19-6 run of their own.
On Tuesday, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team (3-0) defeated the Houston Cougars (1-1) at the Dreamstyle Arena. This was their third game of the season after previously winning their first two games against Northern Arizona and the University of California, Riverside. Starting the game were Lobo sophomores Ahlise Hurst and Jayla Everett, junior Antonia Anderson, and seniors Najala Howell and Jordan Hosey. In the first three quarters, the Lobos outscored the Cougars. Although New Mexico lead for three quarters of the game, Houston outscored UNM 26-11 in the final quarter. UNM left the game with their third win of the season, with the final score of 81-71.
A strong record continues for the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team. They managed to secure another win against San Jose State during the week’s tournament play but couldn’t overcome Boise State. In Boise, Idaho, the Mountain West Conference tournament took place with New Mexico (11-7-1, 7-4-1) playing both the Spartans (7-9-4, 5-5-2) and the Boise Broncos (17-4-0, 9-3-0) in the quarter and semi-final games.
Five individuals were inducted into the University of New Mexico athletic Hall of Honors this fall. Alumni we honored for their success as UNM athletes and service to the University after graduating. The University established the UNM Athletic Hall of Honors 1986 to celebrate and recognize Alumni Lettermen and promote current student-athletes. This year UNM is awarded two Distinguished Service Awards in addition to the inductions of this year’s Hall of Honors class, as well as honored two current student-athletes for athlete of the year and Joe Franklin as coach of the year.
The University of New Mexico Lobos came away with a 92-71 opening night victory against Eastern New Mexico University at Dreamstyle Arena on Wednesday . UNM’s (1-0, 0-0 MWC) highly touted offensive talent made its presence known as the Lobos geared up for what many project to be a successful season. UNM’s offense featured double-digit scoring efforts from five players as the Lobos flaunted a pass-first approach that produced an impressive 22 assists on 33 made shots.
Nahje Flowers, a defensive lineman and Junior at the University of New Mexico, died this week, according to Assistant Athletic Director Frank Mercogliano. The details of Flowers’ passing are unknown at the time this article published. In a statement, head coach Bob Davie acknowledged the loss for his players and all who knew Flowers. “Nahje was a wonderful person and a great teammate. Our entire Lobo Football family mourns his passing, and our prayers go out to his family.” Davie said.
The University of New Mexico football team continued to freefall as they lost to the University of Nevada over the weekend. The loss added their losing streak which has now reached a six-game streak. The loss also knocked the Lobos out of bowl contention for the third consecutive season. The game kicked off with UNM winning the coin toss and chose to punt the ball to Nevada. Nevada’s possession lasted only for a few minutes when the Lobo defense forced a punt.
The University of New Mexico women’s cross country team has dominated another Mountain West Conference XC Championship — their twelfth consecutive year taking the gold. The race, ran in Utah on Nov. 1, was another big victory for the Lobos as their competition was unable to hold a flame to running team. Ahead of the pack was New Mexico’s Weini Kelati, last year’s female champion and two-time MWC Athlete of the Week. Kelati secured her second MW champion title with a time of 19:11.2, breaking the Mountain West record by 26 seconds.
After a tough loss in four sets against the San Jose State Spartans, the University of New Mexico Volleyball team traveled to the west to duel against the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The UNLV Rebels took the first set by a total score of 25-12. The first set featured six service errors by UNLV and a six to one rebel-run that extended the UNLV lead from 3-4 to 9-5. In the second set, the Lobos responded with a 25-19 set win.UNLV had its own response taking the next two sets 25-16 and 25-19. Overall in the match, UNLV had 62 kills compared to New Mexico’s 38.
For University of New Mexico cross country runner Weini Kelati, running wasn’t originally something she saw as a sport – it was simply a necessary part of life. Though she has lived in the United States for the past five years, she is originally from Eritrea, Africa. "Our daily life was running. You run to live, because we don’t have transportation back home," Kelati said. When she was 12 years old, Kelati's P.E. coach persuaded her to start running competitively, even though she initially didn’t want to. Unwilling to be second in a race, Kelati won in her first regional competition.
The University of New Mexico football team fell to the University of Hawaii over the weekend, going on a five-game losing streak for the season. Hawaii closed out the Lobos 45-31 by the final whistle. The game kicked off with the Lobos receiving the ball. Their possession lasted only a few minutes before Hawaii received a turn-over kick. On their second play, Hawaii’s quarterback Cole McDonald rushed for a 76-yard touchdown putting the Rainbow Warriors on the board, 7-0. In the Lobo’s next possession, they rushed down the field to give kicker Andrew Shelley a successful opportunity to put three points up on the board. This was followed shortly by a Hawaii interception and a second touchdown, widening Hawaii’s lead 14-3.
The University of New Mexico football team (2-5) was outmatched by the University of Wyoming Cowboys (5-2) in an away game on Saturday, losing 23-10. This game was the 95th homecoming game for the Cowboys and the 70th one played in their War Memorial Stadium. At the start of the game, UNM won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. In its first possession, Wyoming inched up the field but had to punt after not receiving a first down and played Ryan Galovich as its punter.
It seemed unlikely going in, and they can’t take all the credit for themselves, but New Mexico United made the United Soccer League Championship playoffs after beating Las Vegas Lights FC 2-0 on Saturday night, Oct. 19. It would be a different story altogether if not for San Antonio FC. Hosting a hobbled Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at home, San Antonio handed the game to Colorado Springs after an own goal and a score from the 10-man Switchbacks. That game, which ended during halftime of United’s game, gave New Mexico a win-and-you're-in opportunity.
Solutions by The State News
