UNM Lobos overwhelm Utah State and grab control of Mountain West

LOGAN, Utah — It took the first 25 minutes to appreciate the final 15 for the UNM Lobos.

Those first 25 minutes? Not so pretty for New Mexico. But the Lobos thoroughly dominated the final 15 minutes, taking the wind out of the sold-out Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and beating Utah State 82-63.

“Just stayed with it, you know?” UNM coach Richard Pitino said. “I mean, it’s a 40-minute game. It’s a tough environment, tough style of play to kind of adjust to and understand.”

UNM closed the game out on a 43-15 run, take over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West and leave Logan with a win for the first time since 2015.

Whatever worked late wasn't working early. Between the Aggies out-playing UNM and the announced crowd of 10,270 — especially the raucous Hurd student section — riding the visiting team hard from a good hour before the game started, the Lobos never looked comfortable in the first half and even to start the second.

But even out of sorts, the Lobos managed to do just enough to keep it close before the energy that fueled the Aggies for the first 25 minutes of game play evaporated. For the final 15:09, the Lobos outscored USU 43-15, were dancing during timeouts while being yelled at and played the type of defense that has overwhelmed teams all season. Utah State in that final 15:09 hit just 1-of-12 3-point tries.

Utah State hadn't lost by 19 or more points at home since was the worst home loss for Utah State since

Utah State’s last home loss by at least 19 points came on Nov. 26, 1996 (60-41 to Utah).

In the battle between Mountain West leaders, UNM improves to 18-4 overall and 10-1 in conference, the program's best-ever start in Mountain West play. Utah State falls to 19-3 and 9-2. The teams will play again in Albuquerque on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The Lobos took a page out of the Aggies’ playbook with balanced scoring. Mustapha Amzil, who was a game-time decision to even play with complications from planta fasciitis in his foot limiting him lately in games and practice, scored 16 points to lead the team, with fellow starters Nelly Junior Joseph (15), Donovan Dent (14) and Tru Washington (13) all in double figures. C.J. Noland added 11 points off the bench.

“I think what we had was balance, something we have not had,” Pitino said. “... it’s not real sustainable to just have Nelly and Donovan (lead the way every game). Those other guys got to make shots.”

Junior Joseph pulled down 13 boards as the Lobos outrebounded the Aggies 48-33.

Reserve Drake Allen scored 14 points to lead the Aggies, who were ice-cold from beyond the arc, hitting just 5-of-31 (16.1 percent). Meanwhile, the Lobos nailed 7-of-22 triples (31.8 percent).

An Allen “pick 6” — steal and fast-break bucket — off a lazy Washington pass at the top of the key — put Utah State up 48-39 with 15:24 remaining in the game got the Spectrum rumbling.

But the Lobos didn’t back down — to the crowd, or the Aggies.

Dent began forcing the issue, driving aggressively.

He found Junior Joseph for a dunk. A couple possessions later, he scored on his own attack of the basket. Then there was a Jovan Milicevic corner 3-pointer and a Junior Joseph 3-point play to first tie, then give the Lobos a lead at 49-48 with 12:49 left.

That 10-0 run in three minutes, 20 seconds changed the game.

What hasn’t changed is UNM’s dedication to not getting too high or low after games.

“We’re going to get home tomorrow, and then I’m going to absolutely move on, and we’re going to prepare for Colorado State who’s playing great basketball right now,” Pitino said Saturday.

FIRST HALF: Utah State led 36-30 at halftime, and the Lobos probably were fortunate for is being just six points.

At the break, the Lobos hadn’t yet gotten into the groove with any of their usual comforts. UNM had 0 fastbreak points (entered game averaging more than 17 per game), two points off just three turnovers (UNM averages 18 points off turnovers and forced more than 15 per game), and UNM hit just 1-of-9 (11.1%) from 3-point range (UNM was shooting 34.8% entering the game).

On the other hand, eight Lobos scored in the first half, including 12 points from the bench.

BOX SCORE: Lobos 82, Aggies 63

Photos: New Mexico dominates Utah State