UNM Lobos Open Mountain West Play vs. San José State
Record: New Mexico 9–2 | San Jose State 5–6
Date: Saturday, December 20
Location: The Pit, Albuquerque
Conference: Mountain West opener
Mountain West Conference play tips off Saturday night at The Pit as the New Mexico Lobos return home riding momentum and confidence, welcoming a San Jose State team that has been competitive but inconsistent through the non-conference slate.
Lobos Trending Up Entering Conference Play
New Mexico enters league action at 9–2 overall and on a six-game winning streak, most recently a controlled 75–59 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, December 14. That win highlighted the Lobos’ growing depth and balance.
Junior Antonio Chol delivered his best all-around performance of the season against FGCU, posting season highs with 14 points and seven rebounds. Luke Haupt orchestrated the offense efficiently, finishing with a team-high six assists. Haupt is averaging 10.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on the season and continues to serve as a steady presence at the point.
The Lobos’ scoring attack has been driven largely by youth. Freshman Jake Hall has emerged as the team’s leading scorer at 14.2 points per game, while freshman forward Tomislav Buljan has provided consistent interior production at 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest, though his status bears monitoring after missing the FGCU game due to injury.
Veteran leadership remains critical. Senior guard Deyton Albury is averaging 12.7 points per game, while freshman Uriah Tennette has added 10.9 points per outing, giving New Mexico multiple perimeter scoring options entering conference play.
San José State Finding Its Stride Offensively
San José State arrives at 5–6 overall after a competitive 86–82 loss to Stanford. Despite the record, the Spartans have shown offensive upside, placing five players in double-figure scoring.
The offense is anchored by junior guard Colby Garland, one of the Mountain West’s most productive scorers at 18.9 points per game. Garland has been particularly hot of late, scoring 27 points against Long Beach State, 20 versus San Diego, and another 20 in the Stanford loss.
Inside, the Spartans feature senior Yaphet Moundi, who is averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Moundi was dominant in the Stanford matchup, pouring in 26 points, and has formed an effective inside-outside pairing with Garland over the last several games.
Series Context and Matchup Outlook
The teams split last season’s meetings, with San José State edging New Mexico 71–70 in San José before the Lobos responded with a 63–52 home win in March. Both programs, however, feature significant roster turnover, making this matchup more about current form than past results.
New Mexico’s edge lies in depth, home-court advantage, and defensive consistency. The Lobos have held opponents under 60 points in two of their last three games and have shown improved execution on both ends during their six-game run.
San José State has the scoring to stay competitive, but their defensive lapses-allowing 83 or more points in four losses-could be problematic against a Lobo team that is averaging nearly 85 points per game over its last five contests.
Grine’s Prediction
San José State’s Garland-Moundi duo should keep the Spartans within striking distance early, but New Mexico’s balance, depth, and energy at The Pit should take over in the second half.
Prediction: New Mexico wins
Score Prediction: New Mexico 78, San José State 68
The Lobos open Mountain West play with a statement home win, extending their streak to seven and setting a strong tone for conference competition.
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