Sports

Sports

Men's Tennis: Lobos' unbeaten run halted by weekend split

Matthieu Cartron | February 13

The University of New Mexico men's tennis team beat the University of the Pacific 4-1 in Stockton, California on Friday, but then saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end in a 6-1 loss to Santa Clara University on Sunday. For UNM, the match against the University of the Pacific was the first of several matches to be played against California opposition this season.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos tabbed as preseason favorite to win the Mountain West

Matthew Narvaiz | February 13

Another season, another prediction to win the Mountain West conference. The University of New Mexico baseball team picked up three of the seven votes from coaches across the conference, and racked up 31 points overall, to be the favorite to win the 2018 Mountain West title, according to a release from the conference on Tuesday. Of the seven votes, coaches are not allowed to choose their own teams. Instead, they must cast a vote for one of the other six schools.

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Sports

Football: Davie files to appeal 30-day suspension

Robert Maler | February 12

The University of New Mexico announced last week that it would be suspending its head football coach, Bob Davie, for a period of 30 days — but Davie has quickly countered by filing an appeal. University of New Mexico Interim President Chaouki Abdallah released a statement on Thursday, detailing the finding and recommendations of some recent investigations — as well as news of the suspension and additional measures that were outlined. The following day, Davie released a statement saying he was appealing the decision. As the head coach pointed out, there was no specific reason given for his suspension. “None of these three investigations determined that I had violated any University policy,” he said in the statement. “I have appealed the suspension imposed by Interim President Abdallah to the Board of Regents.”

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Sports

Men's Basketball: UNM fades in second half, fall to Air Force on the road

Robert Maler | February 11

Winning on the road continued to present challenges for the University of New Mexico men's basketball team, as the Lobos were unable to close things out in Colorado against the Air Force Academy on Saturday. New Mexico (12-14, 6-5 MW) was without the services of senior Joe Furstinger, whose inside presence was probably something the Lobos could have used — especially in the second half. Furstinger was serving a one-game suspension by the Mountain West for an unsportsmanlike act as time expired in a 73-71 loss to Boise State on Tuesday. The senior seemed to take ownership of the mistake, issuing an apology via Twitter to the Lobos and the opposing team — and specifically the player, Marcus Dickinson, he shoved at the end of the game.

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Sports

Baseball: Season preview, ‘Blue Collar’ Lobos await season ahead

Matthew Narvaiz | February 11

Blue-collar. That’s how senior Danny Collier described this new-look team, which features 17 freshmen as well as a few new transfers, marking a much different team than a season ago. “It’s always blue-collar,” Collier said. “We come out to the yard everyday, work hard, and that’s all you can do. What happens on the field happens on the field. But the work, the preparation that you bring to the table each day, that’s what’s gonna get you there.” It’s fitting, since the Lobos have lost the likes of Luis Gonzalez, Carl Stajduhar, Andre Vigil and Jack Zoellner —all who played integral roles at the plate and in their respective positions. And making up for those losses, means working harder as a collective unit. Still, UNM poses a plethora of power on the offensive end. Junior Jared Mang, who led the Lobos a season ago in batting average at .373, is back this season, while Collier (.328) and junior infielder Hayden Schilling (.317) are also notable returnees whose bats played an integral role.

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Sports

Basketball: Legislators hit the paint to bring relief for cancer patients

Sherri Barth | February 11

Last Monday night, the Rio Grande Rivalry was put on the back burner as the Lobos and Aggies joined up with New Mexico Senate and House legislators to generate funds for cancer. The 2018 Hoops for Hope event saw Democrats and Republicans alike, play and support each other as the participants helped raise money for the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center's patient assistance program. But it wasn't just political rivals who put their differences aside — there were also two opposing college football coaches who played a hand in the action by leading the legislators turned basketball players for one night at the Santa Fe Indian School.

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Sports

Women’s Basketball: Lapeyrolerie leaves game, Lobos still win

Matthew Narvaiz | February 10

Putting the ball in the hoop, for most of the game, was a problem for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team. But a strong fourth quarter effort, and a key 4-point play from senior guard Laneah Bryan, willed the Lobos to a tough victory over Air Force, 57-49, at the Pit on Saturday afternoon. Bryan, who played 26 minutes off of the bench, sunk a 3-pointer while also getting fouled. She drained it, as well as the free throw after, to put the Lobos (19-7, 7-6 Mountain West) up 50-48 with 5:25 left in the game—a lead they wouldn’t relinquish either. The Lobos shot just 32.1 percent from the field, while also only making two 3s, both of which came by way of Bryan. But it wasn’t just the Lobos’ missing shots as much as it was Air Force (2-21, 2-10) locking down on defense.

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Sports

Men’s Tennis: Lobos look to extend unbeaten run in California

Matthieu Cartron | February 9

After losing two of their first three matches of the season, it appears the University of New Mexico has shed its early season woes. In last weekend’s set of three matches, the Lobos beat Nebraska Omaha 5-2, Michigan State 4-0, and Drake University 4-3 to rack up three consecutive wins, and now they will try and extend their three-match unbeaten run to five matches out in California. The Lobos (4-2) will first face the University of the Pacific (1-5) in Stockton, California, and then will head south to take on Santa Clara University (4-2) in Santa Clara, California. Last year, the Lobos appeared to a have a “California curse,” as they were unable to beat a single team from California. The Lobos played Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, the University of San Francisco, UC Irvine, Fresno State twice, San Diego State twice—and lost in each encounter. Those nine losses accounted for just about 70% of UNM’s losses that season.

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Sports

Football: UNM announces 30-day suspension of head coach Bob Davie

Robert Maler | February 9

Recent investigations into the University of New Mexico football program and UNM Athletics could not definitively substantiate key allegations of wrongdoing, but the University is still taking action to address concerns in its findings. The University of New Mexico announced Thursday that it will be suspending head football coach Bob Davie for a period of 30 days without pay. In addition to the suspension, it was announced that the Athletics Department would be required to receive mandatory Title IX and sensitivity training as some of the recommendations being implemented by an investigation.

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Sports

Softball: Season preview, Lobos open with Kajikawa Classic

Cameron Goeldner | February 9

The University of New Mexico softball team opens the season Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. against No. 15/16 University of Utah and at 11:45 a.m. against Saint Mary’s College of California in the first two games of Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Classic will feature 28 teams with the Lobos playing a total of five games over three days. On Saturday, the Lobos will face off against Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m.. Challenging games against No. 3 Oregon and No. 7 Arizona at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday will wrap up the weekend. Friday marks new coach Paula Congleton’s first game in charge of her alma mater after taking over for Erika Beach last June. Congleton came to UNM from Santa Barbara Community College, where she went 354-322 in 19 years. She was a three time All-American at first base during her playing career at New Mexico.

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Sports

Men's Soccer: Lobos add 12 on signing day

Cameron Goeldner | February 8

The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team announced the signing of 12 new recruits for the 2018 recruiting class, including five players from New Mexico. With this class, the Lobos add three players with US youth national team experience. "I want to thank Coach Graczyk and Coach Altman for their tireless efforts in bringing in an incredible class, all the credit goes to them," head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "These players share the values of our program and are all great students from wonderful families. They will mature into impactful leaders in their communities. In sharing the values of our program: academic, community and athletic excellence, these players represent what our state, university and athletic department stand for." The class is headlined by midfielder Erik “Gallo” Virgen, defender Glademir “Pichu” Mendoza and goalie Alex Fetterly as all three have represented the United States at the youth level.

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Sports

Football: National Letter of Intent signing day additions

Cameron Goeldner | February 8

Filling in the pieces of the puzzle. According to New Mexico head football coach Bob Davie, that was the focus for him and his staff during the 2018 recruiting class. The University of New Mexico football program announced the signings of 22 new players on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day, the first day when athletes are able to sign letters of intent, binding them to the school that they previously committed to. Because of the new early signing period, 12 members of this year’s recruiting class signed their letters of intent in December.

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Sports

Women’s Basketball: Lobos fall at Boise State

Matthew Narvaiz | February 8

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team could have taken one step closer toward making it back to the top of the Mountain West by trying to take down Boise State on Wednesday in hopes of extending its winning streak to three games. But despite having three players — senior guards Cherise Beynon and Tesha Buck and junior post Jaisa Nunn score over 20 points each against the Broncos — the win didn’t come as hoped. Instead, the two teams duked it out and BSU got the end result they wanted—a 91-85 victory at Taco Bell Arena.

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Sports

Men's Basketball: Joe Furstinger suspended for one game by MW

Cameron Goeldner | February 8

Joe Furstinger of the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team has been suspended for one game by the Mountain West conference for his actions at the end of Tuesday night’s matchup against Boise State. He will miss Saturday’s game at the Air Force Academy. “The student-athletes and support personnel from both institutions have been admonished with regard to their leaving the bench area to participate in the altercation,” the Mountain West said in a press release. “This action could have resulted in a much more serious incident. The game officials correctly determined that time had expired and were thus unable to employ applicable NCAA playing rules.

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Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos lose composure and lead late in game

Robert Maler | February 7

It's not how you start—it's how you finish. The University of New Mexico men's basketball team led nearly wire-to-wire against Boise State on Tuesday evening, but failed to execute down the stretch—making critical errors and surrendering the final eight points at the end of the game on the way to a 73-71 loss. It was the first loss at home in Mountain West conference place for New Mexico (12-13, 7-5 MW), which tumbled all the way to fifth in the conference standings after it entered the game sitting in third place. And if blowing a late-game lead wasn't bad enough, the team also lost senior Joe Furstinger for his actions toward the end of the game. Boise State's Marcus Dickinson rebounded a missed layup as time expired—but took a shot from Furstinger, who extended his arms up around the head and neck area of Dickinson. Furstinger was presumably trying to commit a foul to extend the game, but the Broncos took exception and the benches cleared before order was restored.

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Sports

Women’s Basketball: Winners of two straight, Lobos head to Boise State

Matthew Narvaiz | February 6

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team is sitting on a cloud of momentum, after winning two straight (both at home) against the likes of Utah State and San Jose State. On Wednesday when they face Boise State on the road — who they beat in early January at Dreamstyle Arena — a win can continue that streak. Against the Spartans on Sunday and against Utah State last Wednesday, the Lobos had a huge defensive resurgence in the second quarters of each game. The Lobos held USU to four points, and outscored the Spartans 22-6 in the second quarter en route to a 92-62 victory.

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Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos looking forward to rematch as they host Boise State

Robert Maler | February 6

The Lobos lost big against Boise State in Idaho earlier in the season, but hope to return the favor as they welcome the Broncos into Dreamstyle Arena aka The Pit on Tuesday evening. Boise State (19-4, 9-2 MW) punished the University of New Mexico men's basketball team when the two teams hooked up on Jan. 3—blowing out the Lobos by a score of 90-62. But New Mexico (12-12, 7-4 MW) has looked like a different team since that game, posting wins in six of its last eight matchups and sit alone in third place in the Mountain West standings.

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Culture

Club offers outlet for South Asian sports

Ariel Lutnesky | February 5

With Superbowl Sunday just behind us, American football is huge this time of the year. But for those of you who prefer sports from South Asia, there’s a club on campus that might be perfect for you: the Bengal Brothers Sports Club. Muntasir Al Kabir, the president of BBSC, said the club has sports teams for all sorts of games popular in South Asia, like cricket, volleyball, soccer, badminton and table tennis.

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Sports

Career Issue: Lobo point guard Hunter Greene transitions from basketball to business

Aaron Cowan | February 5

At 6 feet, 7 inches, former Lobo point guard Hunter Greene is hard to miss. Greene played basketball at UNM from 1983 to 1988, under head coach Gary Colson, getting redshirted in the 1985-1986 season. “It definitely helps to have the height,” Greene said. “I think that’s probably what got me attracted to basketball was my height.” Greene did well on UNM’s team, and said that he thoroughly enjoyed his time there. “I wanted basketball to last longer,” he said. “I graduated as the all-time leading scorer.” From there Greene said he felt that he had to give the NBA a shot and tried out for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Sports

Career Issue: Former Daily Lobo sports writer and IFDM student on to new things

Matthieu Cartron | February 5

Offering several hundred academic programs, the University of New Mexico produces graduates that enter all sorts of different fields—but what do students who have worked at the Daily Lobo go on to do? Not all journalists at the Daily Lobo go on to pursue careers in journalism. And those who do don’t always know where they might end up or what they might cover. Although still in the budding stages of her career, UNM 2017 graduate Isabel Gonzalez could not have imagined being where she is now. Gonzalez majored in multimedia through the Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media program (IFDM), and is now the digital media coordinator for the Lobo Lair. The Lobo Lair is a website that allows UNM fans to interact with one another and connect with Lobo athletics. The website is essentially a group of forums—monitored by modulators—for UNM’s most popular sports, including men’s and women’s basketball.