New Mexico Holds Off Nevada 80-73 Behind Jake Hall's 19 Points

New Mexico's Jake Hall led the charge as the Lobos took down Nevada 80-73 at The Pit, a result that fell closely in line with CHD Scout's pre-game prediction of a New Mexico win by 8.1 points. Hall's 19 points and 6 rebounds paced the Lobos, who improved to 17-4 on the season. The win was a reflection of New Mexico's depth, as they had multiple players step up to contribute to the victory.

The first half saw New Mexico take a slim 36-35 lead into the break, with Nevada's Corey Camper Jr. already making his presence felt with 10 points. Camper Jr. would go on to finish with 20 points and 8 rebounds, leading the Wolf Pack in both categories. Despite his strong performance, Nevada was unable to overcome the balanced attack of the Lobos. Tomislav Buljan added 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for New Mexico, while Uriah Tenette chipped in with 13 points and 5 assists.

The second half saw New Mexico pull away, outscoring Nevada 44-38 to secure the 7-point win. The Lobos' ability to adjust and make key plays late was the difference. Nevada, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency, with Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems adding 16 points each, but it wasn't enough to overcome the strong team effort from New Mexico.

The victory marks another significant win for New Mexico, who continue to build a strong tournament resume. This game was classified as a Quadrant 2 win for the Lobos, while Nevada's loss falls under Quadrant 1. The result will likely have minimal impact on Nevada's tournament chances, given the high quality of the opponent and the relatively small margin of defeat. For New Mexico, however, the win reinforces their position as a formidable team in the college basketball landscape.

As the season progresses, New Mexico want to continue their strong play and make a push for a high seed in the tournament. With their current net ranking of 43, they are well-positioned to make some noise in the postseason. The Lobos' ability to win games like this, against quality opponents, matters in their pursuit of a deep tournament run. For now, they can celebrate another hard-fought victory, one that showcases their depth and resilience. The win over Nevada is a significant addition to New Mexico's tournament resume, and they want to build on this momentum as they move forward.