The Lobos Keep Leaving Shooters Open—and Opponents Keep Making Them Pay
East Texas A&M guard Evan Phelps (2) attempts a three against the Lobos in their home opener on Nov. 5th at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM. Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
New Mexico’s defensive identity is clear—protect the paint at all costs. But seven games into the season, the numbers show that philosophy is producing a flood of open 3-point looks that continue to put the Lobos in close games, two of which they have lost.
In UNM’s Nov. 15 defeat to New Mexico State, the Lobos allowed the Aggies to shoot 50% from the 3-point line (7-14) in the second half. Against Nebraska, the Lobos surrendered nine first half 3-pointers and dug themselves in a 20-point whole.
“…Our defense allows volume from (the 3-point line),” Olen said in his post-game remarks after the Nebraska game where the Cornhuskers hit seven of their first nine 3-point shots in the first half. “We always want to, regardless of opponent, protect the paint first.”
UNM’s defensive scheme encourages players to help from the permitter to prevent easy drives to the basket. Even the slightest amount of dribble penetration will draw UNM defenders off their man to help. The result often is a late recovery onto a shooter who gets a breath of airspace to knock down a 3-point shot, as seen in these clips from the UC Riverside and Alabama State games.
Overhelping on dribble penetration has not been the only reason the Lobos have given up open 3-point looks. Against New Mexico State, sharpshooter Jemel Jones is seen here knocking down a long range three after Lobo guard Luke Haupt sagged too far into the paint as the ball was passed around the arc, and was late to closeout.
At times, UNM has executed poor ball screen defense when opposing teams set ball screens for shooters. Here, Haupt for some reason goes underneath a ball screen on UC Riverside guard Andrew Henderson, who shot 7-13 from the 3-point line against the Lobos. Henderson knocked down his 4th 3-pointer in this clip.
UNM saw similar poor ball screen defense at times against Alabama State. Here, Albury and Chris Howell failed to communicate on the ball pick and Hornet guard Asjon Anderson was able to get free to put in his 5th made 3-pointer. The Lobos gave up 30 points to Anderson, an individual season high allowed by UNM’s defense, and allowed Alabama State to shoot 50% from the 3-point line (13-26) as a team for the game.
“A lot of that is on me, in terms of the coverage decisions and some of the scheme stuff,” Olen said after being asked why Alabama State was allowed to shoot so comfortably from the 3-point line. “Certainly didn’t feel like I put our guys in the best situation for a lot of that first half.”
Opposing teams are shooting more 3-point shots than 2s against UNM’s defense.
Graphic courtesy of Cbbanaltics.com The heat graph with red and blue hexagons show different areas on the floor where opposing teams have shot against UNM through 7 games. The hexagons marked in red show where teams are shooting over 40%.
While teams are shooting a combined 32% from the 3-point line against UNM through seven games, it has been hot shooting in either the first or second halves that has given the Lobos problems in their last five outings:
UC Riverside shot 53% (8-15) from the 3-point line in the 2nd half on Nov. 11;
NMSU shot 50% (7-14) from the 3-point line in the 2nd half on Nov. 15;
Nebraska shot 47% (9-19) from the 3-point line in the 1st half on Nov. 20;
Mississippi State guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps shot a combined 63% (7-11) from the 3-point line in the 1st half on Nov. 21;
Alabama State shot 64% (9-14) from the 3-point line in the 1st half on Nov. 25.
New Mexico Highlands: The Lobos will welcome NCAA D-II New Mexico Highlands to The Pit on Monday. The Cowboys are struggling at 0-7 on the season under first-year head coach Zach Settembre.
The Cowboys did play New Mexico State tough during stretches of their 74-58 exhibition loss on Nov. 11.
NMHU’s roster has a few familiar faces to UNM and New Mexico high school basketball fans.
Cowboy forward Ibrahima Sacko played for UNM last season under Richard Pitino. Sacko averaged one point and one rebound per game and could never crack Pitino’s rotation. He’s played in only 3 games for NMHU so far, but had a season high 21 points vs. Cameron University on Nov. 25.
Former Atrisco Heritage guard Latavious Morris scored over 2,000 points in his high school career, and led the Jaguars to deep runs in NMAA state basketball statement tournament 4 times between 2021-2025. Morris has started 4 of 7 games for the Cowboys as a true freshman.
Photo of NMHU guard Latavious Morris during New Mexico Highlands’ 88-44 loss to North Texas. Photo courtesy of Morris’ instragram page @latavious.morris.
Former Eldorado guard Caileb Parham has started the last two games for NMHU. He’s played in every game and had a season high 10 points vs. Angelo State on Nov 8.
Guards Cody Vassar-Steen and Lukas Turner were high school standouts at Farmington and Santa Fe High schools from 2021-2025. Both have appeared in games this season for NMHU though have seen limited minutes.
The game can be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
