LAS CRUCES — The UNM men’s basketball team fell 76–68 to New Mexico State on Saturday. The game featured 12 ties and six lead changes before the Aggies’ pressure defense and hot second-half shooting took control. Senior Deyton Albury (18 points) and freshman Uriah Tenette (13) carried the Lobos offensively, combining for 17 of the team’s final 19 points, but UNM went scoreless after Albury fouled out with 1:56 remaining. NMSU outscored UNM 9–2 in the final three minutes behind big shots from Jemel Jones and Anthony Wrzeszcz, who powered an Aggie surge from the three-point line after halftime. UNM’s offensive rhythm suffered under NMSU’s aggressive ball pressure, contributing to 10 turnovers and a 37% first-half shooting mark. In front of a hostile crowd of 8,106, the Lobos struggled to execute late. UNM faces Nebraska next in the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 20

LAS CURCES —The UNM men’s basketball team is set to battle their in-state rival, New Mexico State Aggies, on Saturday at the Pan American Center. With guards Deyton Albury and Uriah Tenette still listed as day-to-day and no official update expected until warmups, the Lobo offense may once again depend on the physical play of Luke Haupt and Chris Howell. Haupt and Howell recently proved their ability to muscle into the lane, combining for 26 points against UC Riverside.

The Aggies, coached by Jason Hooten, are expected to ratchet up the defensive pressure. NMSU forced an impressive 43 turnovers in their first two games, continuing Hooten's blueprint of tough defense. NMSU is led by Cal State Bakersfield transfer Jemel Jones, who is averaging 23.5 points per game this season. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 7 pm, with fans able to catch the action on ESPN+ or tune in via KKOB radio.

ALBUQUERQUE — The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team powered past UC Riverside 82–68 Wednesday night in The Pit, using a dominant late second half to stay unbeaten. After the Highlanders tied the game at 53 with 11:30 to play, the Lobos responded with a decisive 14–0 run fueled by defense and fastbreak scoring. UCR guard Andrew Henderson kept the Highlanders close with 27 points and seven 3-pointer. The Lobos outscored the Highlanders 52–10 inside and shot a season-best 52% from the field. Chris Howell led UNM with 15 points, while Luke Haupt added 11 and drew seven fouls. Playing without injured guards Deyton Albury and Uriah Tenette, the Lobos still posted just five turnovers and had six players score in double figures. UNM travels to Las Cruces on Saturday for a rivalry matchup with New Mexico State.

ALBUQUERQUE — First-year UNM head coach Eric Olen faces a familiar opponent Tuesday night as the undefeated Lobos host UC Riverside in The Pit. The Highlanders were the last team to hand Olen a regular-season loss, beating his UC San Diego squad 85-81 in January. Like UNM, UCR enters 2-0 with a rebuilt roster and new coaching staff, led by guard Marqui Worthy (18.5 ppg) and forward Osiris Grady (18 ppg). The matchup will test the Lobos’ interior defense and rebounding, as Riverside brings more size and depth than UNM’s previous opponents. Olen’s team has excelled at forcing turnovers — 44 through two games — but has struggled defending the rim and maintaining defensive intensity in second halves. The game, a Quad 4 opportunity for UNM and Quad 2 for UCR, offers the Lobos their toughest early-season challenge.

ALBUQUERQUE — The UNM men’s basketball team used stifling defense to set the tone early against UT Arlington, defeating the Mavericks 74-56 in The Pit. Freshman forward Tomislav Buljan led the way with a team-high 17 points, including 13 after halftime, as the Lobos consistently fed him the ball inside. Senior Chris Howell helped facilitate the offense with five assists, while senior guard Deyton Albury added 15 points and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, marking his first double-digit performance in four games. UNM returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 11, when they host UC Riverside at The Pit.

ALBUQUERQUE — The UNM men’s basketball team looks to stay unbeaten when it hosts UT Arlington on Saturday at The Pit. It’s a rematch of a 2023 thriller decided by a Donovan Dent layup, though neither team returns a single player from that game. The Mavericks, picked fourth in the WAC, opened their season with a dominant 91–40 win over North Texas–Dallas, holding their opponent without a field goal for nearly 16 minutes. Preseason All-WAC forward Raysean Seamster led UTA with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while transfers Cash Chavis (Arkansas) and Tyran Mason (North Texas) also contributed. UNM, meanwhile, aims to improve its offensive execution while building on a strong defensive effort in its win against East Texas A&M on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with a ticket promotion offering free tickets for children 12 and under with the purchase of one adult ticket.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—In UNM’s season opener, the Lobos shifted their offensive focus from perimeter shooting to attacking the paint against East Texas A&M. The Lobos won the rebound count 43-39 and scored scored 38 points inside the paint. Freshman Uriah Tenette made a strong debut off the bench with 14 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Hall also chipped in 14 points while Tajavis Miller added 11 off the bench. UNM’s defense forced 21 turnovers and held ETA&M to 34% shooting. Olen emphasized the team’s defensive strength and expects offensive execution to improve. UNM next faces UT Arlington on Saturday at The Pit.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—The UNM men’s basketball team jumped out to a 16–2 lead over Northern Arizona in Thursday’s exhibition but cooled off en route to 64-54 win. Antonio Chol (20 points) and Jake Hall (12) led the Lobos, who shot 36% overall and 31% from three. Coach Eric Olen said the team “regressed” in shot selection and UNM struggled with turnovers and missed free throws. After dominating early defensively, UNM allowed NAU to shoot 45% in the second half. The Lobos will start the regular season next Wednesday at 7:00 pm against East Texas A&M.

PULLMAN, Washington—The Lobos opened the Eric Olen era with a 74–66 exhibition loss to Washington State, but Olen remained optimistic afterward, citing encouraging defensive stretches and valuable lineup experimentation. UNM led 38–37 at halftime after forcing 13 turnovers and closing the half on a 14-5 run, but the offense collapsed in the second half, hitting just 20% from the field and 13% from three as the Cougars pulled away. Despite the loss, Olen said the exhibition gave his team a chance to build chemistry and evaluate rotations ahead of the regular season.

UNM’s Defensive Identity—UNM head coach Eric Olen is bringing his signature fast-paced, space-and-pace offensive style to the Lobos — but it starts with defense. With 14 newcomers, the team has embraced a high-intensity, turnover-focused defensive identity that mirrors Olen’s 2024–25 UC San Diego squad, which ranked among the nation’s best in efficiency and steals. The Lobos are expected to at times run a disruptive matchup zone that blurs the lines between man and zone defense, designed to confuse opponents and fuel transition offense. Despite some fan concerns about a lack of traditional bigs, Olen emphasizes the team’s length and versatility across positions. The vision is clear: create chaos on defense, run the floor, and let it fly from deep

Nick Nunez gives his thoughts what new UNM head men’s basketball coach Eric Olen needs to do to build his new roster.