The first game involving a ranked Wyoming team since 2015 ended with a 75-66 loss for the No. 22 Cowboys against a New Mexico team led by Jaelen House’s 34 points on Tuesday at Albuquerque, N.M.
It was the first win by New Mexico over a ranked opponent since Jan. 5, 2019, when the Lobos defeated No. 6 Nevada 85-58 in Albuquerque.
House, a transfer from Arizona State, scored 14 of New Mexico’s last 17 points of the game since 5:24 was remaining.
His 30th point came on a drive to the basket that gave New Mexico a 68-63 lead with 1:25 left.
Graham Ike, who finished with 26 points to lead Wyoming, cut the lead to 68-65 on a layup with 1:11 left.
Jay Allen-Tovar responded with a 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
After Drake Jeffries missed a 3-pointer for Wyoming, House was fouled and he made both free throws to give New Mexico a 73-65 lead.
Jamal Mashburn Jr. contributed 18 points for the Lobos (11-14, 3-8 Mountain West).
Wyoming (21-4, 10-2) had only one other double-figure scorer aside from Ike — Jeremiah Oden with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field.
The game was competitive from the start with neither team leading by more than six points in the first half.
Wyoming took a 33-30 at halftime behind 10 points from Oden, including 3-of-3 shooting from the field, with a 3-pointer, and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.
House had 12 points in the half to lead the Lobos. House, Mashburn (10 points) and Allen-Tovar (seven) scored 29 of New Mexico’s 30 points at halftime.
After a dunk by Ike with 15:30 remaining gave Wyoming a 41-34 lead, New Mexico went on an 11-2 run.
House had five points, including a 3-pointer, and Mashburn scored four points in the rally that gave the Lobos a 45-43 lead with 10:50 left.
New Mexico’s 9-2 run, that included House’s fourth 3-pointer of the game, put the Lobos ahead 58-51 with 6:09 remaining.
–Field Level Media
