Milos’ Moment: Vicentic Seizes His Chance as Lobos Open Mountain West Play in Style
UNM’s Uriah Tenette (4) finishes a dunk Saturday night against San Jose State. New Mexico beat SJSU 88-65 at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM. Photo: Chris Rodarte/Game Pass Media
It truly is the season after all.
And Milos Vicentic punctuated that.
On Saturday night, Vicentic received -- and certainly gave as well -- in the University of New Mexico's men's basketball blowout of San Jose State (5-7) in the Pit.
The 6-foot-7 graduate senior received the most quality minutes he's had all season, and he gave UNM an eye-popping performance to lead the Lobos (10-2) to an 88-65 rout in both teams' Mountain West Conference opener.
"I'm happy for him," said UNM's first-year coach Eric Olen "Milos has worked hard to get back healthy."
Vicentic, who followed Olen from the UC San Diego to UNM as a transfer, scored a team-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added four rebounds in 17 minutes of action in, by far, his best outing of the season.
Before Saturday, Vicentic's season high for minutes (22) and points (seven) came in a 97-47 laugher against Division II New Mexico Highlands.
Other than that game -- which was just slightly more than an exhibition -- Vicentic had not played double digit minutes in any other contest this season.
But with UNM starters Chris Howell and Tomislav Buljan still nursing injuries and without reserve Kevin Patton, Jr., available, Vicentic saw action early and often.
The Serbian responded by shooting UNM out of an early 3-point funk with two treys, then a strong inside move to lead a 13-4 Lobo run to close the first half at 41-28.
Until Vicentic's first of his three 3s, the Lobos were just 1-of-11 from behind the arc.
"You never know how much of a chance you're going to get," Vicentic said of his extended playing time. "You need to be prepared.
"For me, I just want to do my job whenever I get my chance. I'm fired up if I only play two minutes, because these people deserve that, and they are always there to support us."
San Jose State, coached by former Colorado State coach Tim Miles -- also a finalist for the Lobos' head gig five years ago when Rick Pitino was hired -- made a brief run early in the second half.
The Spartans pulled within 44-39 on Melvin Bell's 3-pointer with just under 16 minutes remaining, but Vicentic hit another 3 and teammate Antonio Chol added two more 3s to boost the count to 55-43.
The Spartans (5-7) never had back-to-back scores Fib until the final minute of the game and New Mexico put on a show in front of a raucous early-Christmas crowd announced at 12,785.
Senior guard Tajavis Miller, who also had not seen the floor since the New Mexico Highlands game, came off the bench to provide some serious spark midway through the second half.
He had a great outlet pass to freshman Uriah Tenette, with the latter responding with a rim-rocking slam.
Miller then hit two straight 3s and the blowout was on.
Freshman Jake Hall then got in the act and helped the Lobos got on a 17-0 run.
It was 88-57 New Mexico before the Spartans closed the game on an 8-0 run to make the final a touch more respectable.
UNM’s Deyton Albury goes up for a dunk against San Jose State. Photo: Chris Rodarte/Game Pass Media
"It was a really good performance, a great way to start the conference," Olen said. "A lot of guys contributed. (We had) great minutes off the bench. Milos and Tajavis, specifically, played well. They haven't had as much opportunity. It's a credit to their preparation. Great way to start the conference and enjoy the holidays."
Asked if Vicentic and Miller have show a lull in practice because of their lack of playing time, Olen said "Everyone wants to play. Any time guys aren't in the rotation, there's a level of disappointment, and there should be.”
If you don't want to play, what are we doing. But they've done a good job in practice and done what has been asked of them."
Hall added 18 points for UNM while JT Rock had 11 points and five rebounds. Tenette had 11 points and four assists and point guard Deyton Albury had 10 points, a game-high seven assists and five rebounds.
Colby Garland had a game-high 27 points for SJSU while Bell added 12 and Pasha Goodarzi 11.
