Lobos survive upset bid from San Jose State in Mountain West opener

They lacked energy, weren’t particularly good on defense and were outhustled deep into the second half.

But in the end, four UNM Lobos scored in double figures and an off-balance Donovan Dent fadeaway jumper on the baseline with 22 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in a too-close-for-comfort 83-77 win over the San Jose State Spartans in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.

“Sometimes you have one of those a year where just you’re kind of walking around in mud in the first half,” UNM coach Richard Pitino said after the game, frustrated with the overall effort of his team but grateful for a conference win against a team, and coach, he has a lot of respect for.

“Our energy level was not very good. And credit to San Jose and Coach (Tim) Miles, they were ready to go.”

Dent scored 20 points, had five assists and drew eight fouls and Mustapha Amzil chipped in 19 to pace UNM (7-2, 1-0 Mountain West), which was a 19.5-point favorite at tipoff.

San Jose State (4-6, 0-1) was led by Josh Udeje with 22, including scoring 16 straight SJSU points at the end of the first and beginning of the second half, and Will McClendon with 20.

The Spartans jumped on the lackluster Lobos early with a 17-4 lead on a Uduje layup with 14:16 left in the opening half.

The Lobos not only opened the game seemingly unable to stop the Spartans, who entered on a three-game win streak, but they couldn’t seem to hit a shot, either.

The Lobos hit one of their first 11 shots. A Nelly Junior Joseph 3-point play with 14:01 left in the half started a 9-0 UNM scoring run.

A Filip Borovicanin bucket with 3:44 left in the half gave the Lobos their first lead, but they could never seem to get over the hump and shake the Spartans.

UNM led 39-38 at halftime thanks to a Tru Washington 3-pointer at the buzzer, but star point guard Dent had just two points at the break.

“We weren’t real comfortable (in the first half),” Pitino said, noting the Spartans used some five-guard looks that caused UNM problems. “They obviously built a lead, (and it was) of a more traditional game in the second half, that we were more comfortable with. Donnie, way better in the second half. I thought the first half he was way too consumed with getting fouled, refs or whatever. And his effort, his energy, was way better the second half, obviously.”

Coming out of halftime, it was again San Jose State with the momentum. A Jermaine Washington 3-pointer with 12:28 to go gave the Spartans a 59-50 advantage.

However, the Lobos gradually cut into lead and a Dent layup tied the game at 75-75 with just under four minutes to go.

His awkward jumper with 22 second left put UNM up 81-77 — enough breathing room to close out the win.

UNM got only six points off 10 SJSU turnovers, a stat UNM usually relies on heavily for their success. But the Lobos also outrebounded the Spartans 42-31 and outscored them 40-30 in the paint.

THE NEW GUY: UNM’s new Vice President and Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo, along with his family (wife, Jordan, 5-year-old son Liam and 3-year-old daughter Layla) were introduced to fans on Bob King Court during the under-8-minute timeout of the first half to a loud ovation.

SPEAKING OF LOUD OVATIONS: C.J. Noland missed Wednesday’s game with a right thumb injury sustained in last Friday’s game against USC in Palm Desert, Calif., unrelated to any of the recent allegations of a fight between teammates last week.

In his place, third-year Lobo guard Braden Appelhans got the first start of his college career, being introduced before the game to the loudest ovation of any starter.

UNM Lobos beat San Jose State: Photos