New Mexico Dominates UNLV 89-61 Behind Tomislav Buljan's Double-Double

New Mexico's impressive performance on the road against UNLV was a reflection of their strength as a team, with Tomislav Buljan leading the charge. The Lobos' big man posted 18 points and 11 rebounds, pacing his team to a resounding 89-61 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center. This win was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted a New Mexico victory by 7.6 points, but the actual margin of 28 points far exceeded expectations.

From the opening tip, New Mexico set the tone, taking a 41-22 lead into halftime. UNLV struggled to find their footing, with their top scorers, Issac Williamson and Naas Cunningham, managing just 9 points each. The Rebels' offense was stagnant, and they were unable to mount a significant challenge to the Lobos' dominance. New Mexico's Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette also made significant contributions, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively, to help their team pull away.

The second half was more of the same, with New Mexico outscoring UNLV 48-39 to seal the win. The Lobos' defense was stifling, holding the Rebels to just 61 points on the night. UNLV's offense, which had been averaging a respectable number of points per game, was unable to crack the code against New Mexico's stingy defense.

The win is a significant one for New Mexico, who improve to 17-4 on the season. As a Quadrant 2 victory, it will undoubtedly look good on their resume come tournament time. For UNLV, the loss drops them to 10-10, and while it was a Quadrant 2 game for them as well, the margin of defeat will likely have a negative impact on their tournament chances.

Tomislav Buljan's performance was a key factor in the Lobos' success, and his double-double will surely catch the attention of scouts and opponents alike. His ability to dominate the paint and control the glass was a major difference-maker in the game. Meanwhile, Issac Williamson's 9 points were a bright spot for UNLV, but it was not enough to overcome the Rebels' overall struggles.

As the season wears on, New Mexico want to build on this impressive win and continue to make a case for themselves as a tournament contender. With their strong record and impressive performances like this one, they are certainly a team to watch in the coming weeks. The Lobos' resume is looking stronger by the day, and this win will only help to bolster their chances of earning a favorable seed in the tournament.