UNM home opener: Lobos, led by freshmen, tame Lions

The dawn of the Eric Olen era at the University of New Mexico ended with a familiar result — a win in the Lobos’ home opener.

Stifling defense, balanced scoring and three guys playing their first college games led UNM to a dominating 76-54 win over East Texas A&M in front of an announced Pit crowd of 10,726 on Wednesday night.

“That was a lot of fun — a lot of fun to be part of,” Olen said after career coaching victory 241, but UNM coaching victory No. 1.

“This is a special place — walking down the ramp, jump-ball going up, I think everybody in our locker room had had goosebumps for that, and so that was fun to experience. We’re looking forward to building on that,” he said.

The Lobos — a team that relied heavily on the three-point shot in two exhibitions — scored 10 of their first 11 points in the paint against the Lions and ended up with 38 points in the paint. Twelve Lobos played and 10 scored their first points in the cherry and silver.

True freshmen Uriah Tenette and Jake Hall led the scoring charge with 14 points apiece and nontraditional freshman Tomislav Buljan — a 22-year-old who has played professionally in Croatia, but was playing his first NCAA game on Wednesday — had eight points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Tenette added five assists and three steals in 24 minutes off the bench.

“I don’t think everybody’s got impact freshmen on the roster this day and age,” Olen said. “We’re not worried necessarily about age as much as are they good players (with) the right mentality and approach to the game. Do they fit what we’re trying to do?”

Tajavis Miller had 11 points and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range for a Lobos team that went 8-of-20 (40.0%) from beyond the arc.

Though the team’s offense was efficient, Olen’s debut will be remembered for defense, especially early on.

The visiting Lions, from the Southland Conference, opened the game hitting 1-of-10 shots and the Lobos took a 34-14 lead at the break. After missing the first six shots of the second half, the Lions were 5-of-31 shots (16.1%) at one point before the Lobos let up on defense.

Here are some defensive highlights:

• UNM forced ETAMU into 15 first-half turnovers (21 in the game)

• ETAMU shot 5-of-25 in the first-half (20.0%), including going 0-14 from 3-point range (0.0%)

• 14 points is the lowest first-half total by a Lobos opponent since leading Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-11 at the break on Dec. 17, 2016

“I think where we are, from an offensive execution standpoint, we we’re going to rely on the defense here right now. I think it’s ahead of the offense at this stage,” Olen said. “... I think as we clean things up offensively, we’d like to be complementary.”

UNM outrebounded ETAM 43-39 and scored 17 second-chance points off 12 offensive rebounds.

For starters

Deyton Albury, Chris Howell and Hall started at guard, Antonio Chol and Buljan at forward.

It marks the second time at UNM since at least the 1950s, according to Sports Information Director Steve Kirkland, that all five starters on opening night were newcomers. The other: 2021 in the first game coached by Richard Pitino when the starting five consisted of Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., Taryn Todd, Jay Allen Tovar and Birima Seck.

Also, two freshmen in the opening night starting lineup was a first since the 2010-11 season when Kendall Williams and Alex Kirk were starters for Steve Alford’s Lobos.

UNM Lobos overpower East Texas A&M: Photos