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What: New Mexico Lobos vs. Wyoming Cowboys
When: Saturday December 7th, 2019 at 2 p.m. Mountain
Where: Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, WY
Coverage: The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet on the TV side, while the UNM Sports Network will have the radio call (770 AM/94.5 FM KKOB in Albuquerque, or TuneIn App search KKOB).
Series: This is the 142nd meeting between the two schools. UNM has the series lead at 73-68. However, the Lobos are just 24-42 at the Arena-Auditorium. Last season the teams split the regular season series, with the home team winning each time. The two faced off again in the Mountain West Tournament with the Lobos winning 78-68.
Breakdown:
The New Mexico Lobos hope to extend their winning streak to four games and go to 2-0 in conference when they travel to visit the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday. The Cowboys are 3-6 overall on the season and 0-1 in Mountain West Conference play, losing to Air Force 86-77 on Wednesday night.
The Cowboys have lost three straight games coming into Saturday’s matchup as well.
Lobos looking to continue great start:
New Mexico’s 8-2 start to this season is the best start in their first 10 games since the 2012-13 season when they started 10-0. The Lobos finished that season with a 29-6 record overall.
Along with the team start, the Lobos have three players averaging in double figures scoring, led by JaQuan Lyle with 18.2 points per game; Carlton Bragg Jr. is averaging 12.4 points per game, while Makuach Maluach is averaging an even 10 points per game.
What does Wyoming have to counter the Lobos:
Looking at the Cowboys’ record of 3-6, kind of goes without saying that they have struggled this season. Entering today’s contest, they only have one player averaging in double figures in scoring. That is Hunter Maldonado with 15.8 points per game.
In their last game, though, they had four different players crack the double-digit barrier in scoring. Led by Maldonado, of course, with 18 points. Jake Hendricks had 17 points as did Hunter Thompson. TJ Taylor ended up with 10 points in the loss.
X-Factor for the Lobos:
The Lobos have relied on their inside scoring a lot over the last three games. That might prove to be beneficial in this contest in a different way. The Cowboys gave up 17 three-pointers in the loss to Air Force; so, it would behoove the Lobos to look at driving and kicking the ball out for some open looks.
Prediction:
As I have said before, the two losses by the Lobos this season have come of their own struggles. Whether that be turning the ball over, or shooting poorly, or both. Wyoming has struggled mightily this season, but they shouldn’t be overlooked. Wyoming was just 7-23 last season entering the contest in Laramie against New Mexico and was still able to come away with an 88-81 win over UNM. So, even with a terrible record Cowboys are capable of beating New Mexico. This isn’t one of those times that I feel that it is going to happen, though. The Lobos have too much firepower on the inside and the perimeter for the Cowboys to handle. I got the Lobos-78 Cobwoys-65.