And a Mountain West Conference women’s basketball championship may be on the line.
After last week’s relaxing of New Mexico’s public health order to allow for college games to again be played in the state, the Mountain West conference on Monday evening decided that two make up games to be played between the UNM Lobo women’s basketball team — currently in second place in the league standings at 9-3 — and the Colorado State Rams — sitting in first place at 11-3 — will take place Thursday and Friday in the Pit.
UNM Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez confirmed the decision to the Journal on Monday evening.
Fans will not be allowed in either game. Game times will be announced Tuesday by UNM.
UNM (12-3 overall) completed a sweep of Utah State on Monday and improved to 9-3 while the league-leading Rams were upset by 9th-place Air Force, dropping CSU to 15-3 overall and 11-3 in league games — tied in the loss column with UNM.
If the Lobos win both games, they are the MWC champions and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins on Sunday in Las Vegas, Nev. If they split, or lose both, they could finish anywhere between second and fourth in the league standings.
The schools and league had been contemplating having the teams play one game in Las Vegas prior to the tournament since both would be there anyway.
The last UNM women’s game played in the Pit was Feb. 24, 2020. The last UNM Lobo men’s game was Feb. 29, 2020. The Pit also hosted the 2020 state high school basketball championship, which had its last game played on March 14, 2020.
