Lobos fly passed Air Force, Fresno State Preview, and Lobos on March Madness Bubble Watch

Eric Olen has quickly continued the tradition of winning for UNM men’s basketball.

Despite a setback 86-66 loss to Utah State on Wednesday, Olen’s Lobos enter Saturday night’s matchup against Boise State at 18-5 overall and 9-3 in Mountain West play, good for third place in the league standings, and still in contention to get a top 3 seed in the Mountain West conference tournament.

“We feel like our best basketball and good basketball from us, is good enough every night, at home, on the road, against every team that we could potentially see,” Olen said after the Utah State loss. “It’s not about our capability, its just about our execution and performance.”

Game Preview: https://www.pitpressnm.com/news/unm-mbb-seeks-reset-against-boise-state

New Mexico men’s basketball will defend its 23-game home winning streak Wednesday night when it hosts Utah State in a first-place showdown at the Pit. The Aggies are the highest-rated opponent UNM has faced at home this season, ranking No. 27 in the NET and No. 33 in KenPom, and boast the Mountain West’s top offense at 84.5 points per game. Utah State’s attack is driven by efficiency, ball movement, and depth, led by Mason Falslev and MJ Collins. With the conference race tied atop the standings, protecting home court is critical for the Lobos’ title hopes.

The Aggship (Patrick Mayhorn) joins the show to provide an in-depth preview of the Utah State Aggies.

Game Preview READ: https://www.pitpressnm.com/news/protect-the-pit-lobos-face-utah-state-at-the-pit

UNM men’s basketball defeated Fresno State 83–74 on Wednesday in the Pit, but the game was overshadowed by heavy officiating. Mountain West officials called 39 combined fouls, including 16 on UNM in the second half, prompting head coach Eric Olen to receive just the third technical foul of his career. Despite late whistles allowing Fresno State to close the margin, the Lobos controlled the game behind a dominant defensive effort. UNM forced 22 turnovers, recorded a season-high 18 steals and turned those into 29 points, improving to another conference win ahead of Saturday’s 90's themed matchup with Nevada.

Erik, Nick, and Ed recap the game with their personal takes and look ahead to Nevada.

Sam Hadfield from 801 Bracketology joins the show to talk NCAA bids, bubble watch and first-four in scenarios for New Mexico Basketball and the rest of the Mountain West Conference.

Fresno State Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/heavy-officiating-overshadows-strong-unm-defense-in-win-over-fresno-state

In a clash that lived up to two decades of rivalry, the University of New Mexico stood on the precipice of a stunning comeback and a share of the Mountain West lead. After erasing a 15-point deficit in the hostile confines of Viejas Arena, the Lobos had the ball and the momentum in a tied game with under 40 seconds to play. But in a heartbreak defined by inches, a single steal by SDSU’s Miles Byrd turned a potential New Mexico triumph into a 83-79 Aztec victory, leaving the Lobos wondering what might have been.

In this episode we discuss the Lobos and Aztecs game of runs, key performers, coaching decisions, and missed opportunities.

Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/san-diego-state-steals-new-mexicos-hopes-of-mountain-west-lead

New Mexico used stifling second-half defense and a smart offensive adjustment to defeat Grand Canyon 87–64 Tuesday at The Pit. After a tight first half, the Lobos clamped down defensively, holding the Lopes to 28% shooting and forcing tough, contested looks. Offensively, UNM countered GCU’s pick-and-roll drop coverage with mid-range jumpers and consistent trips to the free throw line, led by Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette. Strong physical play, balanced scoring, and impactful minutes from JT Rock helped UNM pull away and extend its home winning streak to 21 games.

Gamer: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/lobos-find-sweet-spot-jumpers-and-defense-in-blowout-over-gcu

The Mountain West Conference’s newest rivalry tips off Tuesday night in The Pit, where UNM looks to remind Grand Canyon why coming to Albuquerque remains one of the league’s toughest road trips.

The Lopes (10-5) have started strong in their first season in the Mountain West conference and stand at 3-1 in league play. They are on a two-game win streak, having won 75-58 at Boise State on Wednesday, followed by a 76-58 victory at home against San Jose State on Saturday.

Go Lopes Radio, Brennan Williams, joins The Pit Press crew to preview the game, key personnel, matchups, and surprises.

Game Preview: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/unm-looks-to-flex-home-court-muscle-agaisnt-gcus-big-bodies

This week, we recap a massive Saturday night in Albuquerque as the New Mexico Lobos extended their home winning streak to 20 games with a 78-58 dismantling of the Wyoming Cowboys. We dive deep into the "Tomislav Buljan Game"—analyzing how the freshman’s historic 25-point, 12-rebound double-double has fundamentally shifted the ceiling of this UNM roster.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Tomi Takeover: Is Buljan officially the "Alpha" in the Lobos’ frontcourt?

• The Second-Half Blitz: How Eric Olen’s tactical adjustments turned a 3-point nail-biter into a 20-point rout.

• Leland Walker’s Long Night: How the Lobos’ perimeter defense turned Wyoming’s leading scorer into a turnover machine.

Looking Ahead: The Fort Collins gauntlet. We wrap up the show with a comprehensive scouting report on Colorado State with Insider Steve Ivy - Cracker's College Hoops. The Rams are shooting the lights out (Ranked #2 in 3PT%), but they can't rebound to save their lives. We outline the 4 keys to the game the Lobos must follow to steal a win at Moby Arena and stay atop the Mountain West standings.

UNM/CSU Preview: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/unm-heads-to-fort-collins-dangerous-csu

UNM/WYO Recap: https://www.thepitpressnm.com/news/buljan-bullies-in-the-paint-in-win-over-wyoming