The New Mexico Lobos won their first game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 2012, 75-66, against Marquette at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Lobos entered Friday’s tourney opener as the No. 10 seed and Marquette was the No. 7 seed in the South Region.
New Mexico, which won the Mountain West Conference regular season title, improves to 27-7. Marquette finishes 23-11.
The Lobos won their first NCAA tournament game under coach Richard Pitino but lost to Clemson in the 2024 tournament.
The Lobos finished the game by outscoring the Golden Eagles 18-8, which included an 11-0 run.
Guard Donovan Dent led the Lobos with 21 points and, at one point, scored eight of the team’s 10 points to give the Lobos a 63-58 lead. Nelly Junior Joseph added 19 points for the Lobos, Tru Washington scored 12 points and CJ Noland scored 11.
David Joplin led Marquette with 28 points.
New Mexico led 35-32 at the halftime break. The Lobos led 35-27 late in the opening half before a late 5-0 run by the Golden Eagles cut the lead to three.
Noland led the Lobos with nine points, and Dent added eight. Noland made 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Ben Gold and Joplin each scored nine points for Marquette. The Lobos outshot Marquette 46% to 37% in the first half.
Key stats in UNM’s win vs. Marquette
- The Lobos made 18 of 21 from the free throw line, while Marquette was 7 of 12.
- The Lobos won the rebounding battle, 36-30.
- New Mexico outscored Marquette, 38-26, in paint.
Up next
The Lobos will play Sunday vs. No. 2 seed Michigan State or No. 15 seed Bryant.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
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