New Mexico survives scare from Air Force
March 11, 2010
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Darrington Hobson’s 28 points helped eighth-ranked New Mexicostave off a scare from the scrappy Air Force Falcons 75-69 Thursday in theMountain West Conference quarterfinals.
Dairese Gary added 20 points for the Lobos (29-3), who set a school recordfor wins in a season and extended their winning streak to 15.
It wasn’t the runaway that their fans anticipated as they packed the Thomas& Mack Center, celebrating New Mexico’s first top seed in a conferencetournament since 1994.
The Lobos, who led by just three points with 4 1/2 minutes left, are playingfor a high seed in the NCAA tournament instead of just trying to get into thefield of 65 as they have in the past few years.
The Falcons (10-21) kept the pace in their favor and benefited from theLobos’ 6 of 21 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Lobos, who haven’t lost since Jan. 9 and have won a record dozen gamesaway from Albuquerque, will face the San Diego State-Colorado State winner inthe next round Friday night.
Air Force, led by Tom Fow’s 17 points, trailed 48-47 with 12 1/2 minutesremaining but never managed to go ahead as New Mexico snapped a streak of fourconsecutive first-round losses in the MWC tournament, where it had advanced toDay 2 just twice in 10 years.
The Falcons pulled to 38-31 at halftime when Evan Washington sank anoff-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer and then used an 8-0 run to trim theirdeficit to 48-47. Gary turned the ball over and then fouled Washington as hedunked at the other end, and Washington’s free throw made it a one-point game.
Hobson responded with a three-point play, but the Lobos never were able toquite shake the Falcons, who also gave them a hard-fought game in Albuquerquelast month before falling 59-56.
The Lobos improved to 5-14 at the Thomas & Mack since the MWC tournament wasfirst played in Las Vegas in 2000. One of those wins came against UNLV on Feb.10.
The Lobos hit three quick 3-pointers at the start of the game, but thatproved a bane for them as they kept firing from long range—nine of their first12 shots were beyond the arc—and the Falcons used a 9-0 run to go ahead 13-12before Hobson’s finger-roll basket ended the Lobos’ drought and sparked a 15-4run by New Mexico.
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