We are ready in Las Vegas for the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. The Lobos (21-10) will face off against Wyoming (9-21). The two teams split the regular season, with both teams winning on the others home court. The winner of this game will face Utah State tomorrow in the last Quarterfinal Game on Thursday. The other matchups for the games on Thursday are SDSU vs. CSU, Nevada vs. SJSU, Boise State vs. UNLV. This will be updating during the game.
Pre-game thoughts: The Lobos are looking for a long stay in Las Vegas with a chance to earn a birth in the NCAA Tournament. If the Lobos don’t make a run they will be heading to the NIT. The Lobos will have their usual starting five, and they will also have Sebastian Forsling back from his injury. The Lobos had a couple of really bad minutes against Wyoming in the game in The PIT when they allow Hunter Thompson and Xavier DuSell have quick runs on 3-pointers. The Lobos will need to limit the damage of other Wyoming players and keep Hunter Maldonado from dictating the game. If the Lobos are able to get out and run they should be able to find some separation and pull away from this Wyoming team. Jaelen House also missed the last game of the series while he was recovering from the hamstring injury.
Starters:
Wyoming: Wenzel, Thompson, Maldonado, Oden, DuSell.
New Mexico: House, Mashburn Jr., Johnson, Allick, Udeze.
15:22 1H: Lobos 10 Wyoming 6. Wyoming will have 2 FTs after the TO. Lobos have been able to find their spots on offense. Mashburn and House have looked better on their shots than the last couple of weeks. Something to watch. All the Lobo starters except Johnson have a foul in the first 4.38 into the game.
11:49 1H: Lobos 17 Wyoming 12. Lobos have been able to get the ball to the rim with relative ease. Udeze has been a load for Wyoming to handle. Udeze will have a FT after the TO for the 3 point play oportunity. Allick has 2 fouls for the Lobos.
7:53 1H: Lobos 20 Wyoming 19. House will have 2 FTs after the TO. The Lobos had a couple of shots do everything but go in. The Lobos will have to find plus minutes from the Jenkins, Dent combo. Lobos will need to find a few open court chances to get this game moving. Both back up 5’s for Wyoming have 2 fouls, but I don’t know if that is a good thing for the Lobos.
3:59 1H: Lobos 29 Wyoming 28. House will have a 1-1 after the TO. Main thing for the Lobos is to get to the half with no players with 3 fouls, and the lead.
Halftime: Wyoming 38 Lobos 35. Maldonado with a 3 for Wyoming, and Jenkins has a 3 that is just off, to give Wyoming a 3 point lead at the half. Maldonado with 20 points for Wyoming in the first half. Udeze with 8 points and 10 rebounds for the Lobos. All things considered the Lobos have to be okay with where they are after the first 20 minutes. The Lobos will head to the second half with no players with 3 fouls which looked dim early in the first half. The Lobos will need to find a way to get some open 3’s to fall, and make sure that every shot that Maldonado is taking is a tough shot.
15:40 2H: Wyoming 47 Lobos 46. Maldonado with 25 points to lead Wyoming. The Lobos will have to find a way for others to try and beat them. Udeze picked up his 3rd foul, he needs to make sure that he doesn’t pick up his 4th foul soon. Lobos need to get House and Mashburn going like Maldonado is for Wyoming. Wyoming is having issues guarding the Lobos inside.
13:45 2H: Lobos 52 Wyoming 47. This team is elite in the open court. Lobos have been able to get out and run and have claimed a 5 point lead. Lobos need to continue to force Maldonado into tough shots, he hits them you tip your cap. House is ready to go crazy.
11:56 2H: Lobos 58 Wyoming 51. Lobos have been able to get out and run. Jenkins with a lay up but lands on his head. He is heading to the locker room.
7:58 2H: Lobos 67 Wyoming 54. The Lobos have been able to get out and run. House has 22 points to lead the Lobos.
3:35 2H: Lobos 76 Wyoming 61. Wyoming will have 2 FTs after the TO. Allick and Maldonado have 4 fouls. Mashburn and House have been great for the Lobos in this second half. Lobos should be able to rest some guys in the last minute or two.
Final: Lobos 87 Wyoming 76. Lobos will face USU in the final game tomorrow night. House was incredible for the Lobos. He finishes with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover and an entire state hating his guts.