Utah Utes vs New Mexico Lobos Basketball Recap

Utah 82, New Mexico 72

If you want to look up the word “hangover” in the dictionary, you might see a picture of the New Mexico men’s basketball team on a midweek night in Utah’s largest city. It’s true that Salt Lake City is a place where drinking is frowned upon and the alcohol doesn’t flow freely, but for 40 minutes between the painted lines, a depleted and disappointed band of basketball brothers clearly let down its guard on the road.

The Utah Utes defeated the New Mexico Lobos in a Mountain West Conference matchup Wednesday at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The Utes, who had lost their previous two conference home games, scored an impressive victory on the backs of Josh Watkins and J.J. O'Brien. 

The Lobos were led by Kendall Williams and Dairese Gary, who scored 18 points and 15 points, but that really didn’t amount to much leadership at all. New Mexico played with the hangdog look of a team that was still thinking about its most recent game, a decisive loss at home to the league’s ascendant power, San Diego State. The Lobos poured a lot of emotion into that Saturday showdown but came up empty against the Aztecs, and the knowledge of that setback seemed to travel with the team to the Great Salt Lake.

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Head coach Steve Alford's zone defense was counterattacked effectively as the Utes made seven of their first nine attempts from the three-point line.  Utah finished with 10 made baskets beyond the arc, a clear sign of New Mexico’s inability to get out to the perimeter and defend with the intensity Alford expects from his athletes.  Beyond their defensive struggles, the Lobos shot only 42 percent from the field on the evening; they allowed Utah to establish a furious scoring pace, but then couldn’t keep up at the other end of the floor.

It was an important victory for the Utes, who have struggled mightily in returning a once-proud program back to respectability.  Wednesday night’s performance might be a catalyst for things to come.  The Utes used an effective inside-out game plan and turned up the defensive pressure when they needed it in the second half.  Watkins scored 22 points while O'Brein poured in a career high 18 to pace head coach Jim Boylen's squad. Shawn Glover added 10 points and Will Clyburn and David Foster had solid outings, combining for 15 points and 14 rebounds to give the Utes some rugged blue-collar production near the tin. Utah’s evident effort eclipsed New Mexico’s level of fight on a night when the Lobos were punch-drunk with the sadness of a loss to San Diego State.

For one evening, then, the people of Salt Lake City were glad to see visitors experience a hangover.

By: Zach Bloxham
DFN Sports Staff Writer