The New Mexico Lobos secured a 70-64 victory over the Grand Canyon Antelopes, led by Jake Hall's 23 points. New Mexico shot 40 points in the first half, taking a 13-point lead into the break. Grand Canyon managed to narrow the gap, but New Mexico's strong first-half performance ultimately decided the outcome. With this win, New Mexico improves its record to 19-6, while Grand Canyon falls to 15-9. The Lobos' 45 NET ranking will likely remain steady, given the quality of the opponent, with Grand Canyon sitting at 70.
Jake Hall's 23 Points Mark His 10th 20-Point Game of the Season
The game unfolded with New Mexico taking control early, scoring 40 points in the first half to Grand Canyon's 27. The Antelopes struggled to contain the Lobos' offense, which shot 50% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Grand Canyon's Makaih Williams led the charge in the second half, scoring 12 of his 20 points to help the Antelopes narrow the gap. However, New Mexico's Tomislav Buljan and Antonio Chol combined for 24 points, including 12 points from Chol, to secure the win. The Lobos' 30 second-half points were just enough to hold off Grand Canyon's 37-point effort. At halftime, New Mexico led 40-27, and despite being outscored in the second half, they managed to maintain their lead.
Makaih Williams and Jake Hall were the top performers in the game, with Williams scoring 20 points and grabbing 5 rebounds for Grand Canyon. Hall led New Mexico with 23 points, while Tomislav Buljan added 12 points and 9 rebounds. For Grand Canyon, Jaden Henley and Brian Moore Jr. chipped in with 16 points each. New Mexico's balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures, proved too much for Grand Canyon to handle. The Antelopes' Williams and Henley combined for 36 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lobos' strong team performance.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
New Mexico outshot Grand Canyon 47.1% to 43.1% from the field, and the Lobos also held a slight edge in rebounding, 34-31. Grand Canyon committed 12 turnovers, while New Mexico had 10. The Lobos' 40 first-half points set the tone for the game, and their ability to score from both inside and outside proved decisive. New Mexico's 70 points marked the 15th time this season they have scored 70 or more points, and their 19-6 record reflects their consistent performance.
The CHD Scout predicted a Grand Canyon win by 2 points, but New Mexico's strong performance proved the model wrong. The predicted score was 75-73 in favor of Grand Canyon, but the actual result was a 6-point win for New Mexico. The model underestimated the Lobos' ability to contain Grand Canyon's offense and failed to account for Jake Hall's 23-point outburst. With a predicted margin of 2 points, the model was off by 8 points, highlighting the challenges of predicting college basketball games.
This win improves New Mexico's quad 1 record, as the game was classified as a quad 1 matchup for the Lobos. Grand Canyon, on the other hand, suffered a quad 2 loss, which may impact their NET ranking. New Mexico's 45 NET ranking will likely remain steady, while Grand Canyon's 70 ranking may drop slightly. The Lobos' 19-6 record and strong performance against a quality opponent will help their tournament resume, and they want to build on this win in their next game.
New Mexico's next game is scheduled for February 15, when they will face the San Diego State Aztecs. Grand Canyon want to bounce back on February 14 against the Utah Valley Wolverines. Both teams will aim to use this game as a learning experience and improve their performance in their upcoming matchups. With 12 points and 9 rebounds, Tomislav Buljan want to continue his strong play, while Makaih Williams will aim to lead Grand Canyon to a win.