UNM's balanced scoring attack overwhelms UC Riverside

Six Lobos scored in double figures, the Lobos outscored UC Riverside 52-10 in the paint and an attack-the-rim flurry led to a 14-0 run midway through the second half that broke things open in an 82-68 win over visiting UC Riverside on Tuesday night in the Pit.

The balanced win showed off both an element of depth to the UNM roster with two top point guards — starter Deyton Albury and freshman reserve Uriah Tenette — held out with injuries and a level of craftiness from two veteran guards UNM head coach Eric Olen has called the team’s “connectors” in sixth-year guard Luke Haupt (11 points, seven fouls drawn, a steal and a block) and senior guard Chris Howell (15 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block).

“I think depth is a strength of our team,” Olen said. “I thought the guys coming off the bench tonight played really good basketball. All of them made positive contributions. ... That’s why we’re trying to get a lot of guys in the in the games, especially the exhibitions and the early games, to develop and kind of cultivate some of that depth. Ultimately, I thought they got worn down a little bit in the second half.”

UCR (2-1) went off from deep, hitting 14-of-27 (51.9%) of their 3-point attempts, led by 27 points from Division II transfer guard Andrew Henderson (7-of-13 3s). UNM had allowed its first two regular season opponents to hit just 8-of-59 (13.6%) of their 3-pointers last week.

With Albury and Tenette out, the absence of the rim pressure from the two dynamic, fast, athletic guards was glaring through much of the game.

Combine that with Henderson’s shot making (most, not all, were actually well-contested) and the long ball discrepancy (UCR outscored UNM 42-15 on 3-pointers) and the announced Pit crowd of 11,689 was more than a little restless when a De’Undrae Perteete 3-pointer with 11:30 left in the game tied things at 53-53.

But the Lobos, led by Haupt, Howell and Tomislav Buljan’s 11-point, 11-rebounds double-double, shifted gears. From that 53-53 tie, UNM went on a 14-0 run — the first 11 points coming on baskets at the rim and a free throw from a shot in the paint.

Meanwhile, UCR went on a 5 minute, 20 second scoring drought with four of their 14 turnovers and 0-for-7 shooting and the Pit had a steady eruption as the Lobos lead ballooned to 67-53 on a Jake Hall 3-pointer with 6:45 remaining.

At one point in the second half, UNM scored 11 consecutive field goals in the paint.

“We always want to put pressure on the rim,” Olen said. “And with (UCR’s defensive) pickup point, we had a couple drives (to the rim) early in the possession. And I just thought our decision making was good. ... Yeah, 52-10 in the paint is a recipe for success. And obviously they (UCR) deserves a lot of credit for the way they shot the ball.”

Injuries

There wasn’t much information given on the injuries of Albury and Tenette after the game with Olen only saying they each had “lower body” injuries — a more vague approach than media or Lobo fans are used to from the previous Lobo coaches who, at least after a game, would generally disclose the nature of any injury that kept a player out.

Olen said both are “day to day” and “we’ll see how they respond to treatment” but would not discuss whether decisions have been made about the pair’s status for Saturday’s rivalry game in Las Cruces against New Mexico State.

Tenette was in street clothes and did not warm up on Tuesday. Albury was suited up, warmed up and was said to be available, but then did not play.

UNM Lobos defeat UC Riverside Highlanders: Photos