Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team found the going rough in its first road game of the season with an 89-60 loss to New Mexico Wednesday night before 13,518 at The Pit. The Rainbow Warriors hung tough in the first half before a scorching Lobo squad blew the game open after intermission.

In their first meeting since the teams were Western Athletic Conference rivals in 1999, New Mexico continued its dominance of Hawai`i in Albuquerque. The Lobos shot a red-hot 76 percent from the floor in the second half to turn a seven-point lead at intermission into a 29-point blowout. The loss was UH's third in its first four games (1-3) this season and its 23rd in 25 all-time trips to The Pit.

Chad Toppert led five Lobos in double-figures with 20 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range to help New Mexico improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season.

Despite being saddled with early foul trouble, Bobby Nash led the 'Bows with a team-high 16 points. Three others finished in double-figures for UH. Jared Dillinger scored a season-high 15 points, while Riley Luettgerodt finished with 14 and Bill Amis with 10.

New Mexico entered the game with an average home margin of victory of nearly 30 points, while shooting nearly 50 percent on the season from three-point range. The Lobos were true to form against the 'Bows, finishing the game 12-of-24 from behind the arc and shooting 61 percent overall from the floor.

The game looked to be close one after the first 20 minutes. UH came out of the gates quickly and led for a good portion of the first half. Hawai`i led by as many as seven points with 12 minutes left in the first half, but the Lobos stormed back with 10 unanswered points to take the lead for good.

New Mexico held a 38-31 lead at the break and went on a 14-4 run out of the locker room to take a commanding lead 17-point lead. A three-point play by Dillinger midway through the second half cut the Lobo lead to, 62-51. But the Lobos shut the door by out-scoring UH 27-9 the rest of the way.

The two teams will meet again in Honolulu on Dec. 27 as part of a home-and-home series.

The 'Bows next return home for a game with Coppin State on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Tipoff is at 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

 

 

-UH-