The New Mexico men’s basketball team had one final opportunity, down by three, with 28 seconds left.
However, the pressuring defense along with the crowd noise proved to be too much. Fresno State sophomore guard Emmanuel Owootoah would come away with what would be the game-clinching steal on UNM guard Hugh Greenwood who was seeking to get a 3-point shot off to tie the game.
Fresno State (14-15, 9-7 MW) saw its once-sizeable lead slowly deteriorate but held on for the 59-55 win Saturday night in front of the biggest home crowd of the season — 8,310 fans.
The Lobos (14-15, 6-11 MW) cut the ‘Dogs’ lead to two, as deep as they were able to dig, three times inside the final two minutes. But every time, the Bulldogs’ defense and free throw shooters would come through.
“Everything was predicated off our defense,” Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. “Our guys came out with really good energy and did a great job earning the game. We were physical with our block outs. They led us to play in our strength, and our strength is playing in open court. That was probably the best start we’ve had all year in that regards.”
“There were times when I couldn’t even hear some of the switches on the court,” Marvelle Harris, the ‘Dogs leading scorer on the night with 14 points, said. “But it was really loud, and I think us playing like that kept the crowd in the game; they kept working the game with us.”
In the first period, the ‘Dogs stormed off to a 30-8 advantage after the first 12 and a half minutes of play. But the Lobos would make things interesting and went on a 17-2 run to cut the ‘Dogs lead to seven heading into halftime.
Others in double figures on the night were sophomore Paul Watson, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds to record the first double-double of his career. Senior forward Alex Davis also contributed double digits, adding 10.
The Lobos had two in double digits: guard Deshawn Delaney with 15 points and 7-foot-1 center Obij Aget with 13 and 12 rebounds for a double-double.
The win gives the ‘Dogs their first win over New Mexico since 1999 when Jerry Tarkanian was head coach and the first since joining the Mountain West in 2012.
“For us to finally break through and get a victory against a program we have a lot of respect for, I think it gives our guys a lot more confidence,” Terry said. “We’re talking about believing a lot at this point in the year. I understand the urgency you have to play with, and I think our guys have really bought into that.”
There are just two games left in the schedule before the sixth-place Bulldogs travel to Las Vegas for the league tournament. The next and final home game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday when they host Air Force (13-15, 6-11 MW) for Senior Night at 7 p.m.