In a highly-anticipated non-conference showdown, No. 23 Saint Mary's faced off against New Mexico. The game saw Saint Mary's dominate from the start, leading by as much as 22 points. Aidan Mahaney's exceptional performance with 25 points led Saint Mary's to a 72-58 victory. Jaelen House's absence due to a hip injury was felt by New Mexico, and the team struggled to keep up with Saint Mary's. The final score was indicative of Saint Mary's dominance, with the Gaels improving to 2-0 and New Mexico falling to 1-1. The game was broadcast on ESPN+ and drew attention as a high-stakes non-conference game in the first week of the season.
Some of our @ABQJournal coverage of Thursday's UNM Lobos at No. 23 Saint Mary's game: • Gamer: https://t.co/uPB85kGYgy • Video: https://t.co/EpX4IZBKyX • Photos: https://t.co/leBc7usvRR • Emptying the Notebook: https://t.co/2LqXm8PExM #mwbb
Emptying the Notebook: Lobos need to get their House in order Plus, notes on sophs Donovan Dent and Aiden Mahaney, Nelly Junior Noseph, Saint Mary's dominating defensive assist rate 4 yrs in a row and that awful ESPN+ broadcast... https://t.co/2LqXm8PExM via @ABQJournal #mwbb https://t.co/h7bNewZJPw
Behind Aidan Mahaney’s sharp shooting and yet another stout defensive performance, Saint Mary’s cruises past New Mexico in a highly anticipated matchup. https://t.co/EAe7vsFZqw
VIDEO: Postgame Journal interview with UNM Lobos coach Richard Pitino and freshman guard Quinton Webb after their road loss at No. 23 Saint Mary's. https://t.co/nmnu4fN69U via @ABQJournal
Quick gamer filed at buzzer. Will add postgame interview quotes and video shortly... -- No. 23 Saint Mary's jumps out to early lead, never lets up in win over short-handed UNM Lobos https://t.co/uPB85kGYgy via @ABQJournal #mwbb https://t.co/s7FrBfFypY
Final stat sheet: SMC 72, UNM 58 https://t.co/3p13a5YwWB
New Mexico played without All-Mountain West guard Jaelen House, but Lobos, who received one preseason Top 25 vote, still looked a rung below Saint Mary's tonight in Moraga. Gaels led by as many as 22 points in a 72-58 win. Aidan Mahaney was fantastic: 25 pts. (9-19 FG, 5-10 3FG).
FINAL: No. 23 Saint Mary's 72, New Mexico 58 • SMC 2-0 • UNM 1-1, hosts UT Arlington in the Pit next Thursday
Jaelen House has missed 3 games vs. DI teams since he's been a Lobo: 2022-23: • UNM lost to Air Force (AFA finished 2nd to last in Mountain West) • UNM lost to Wyoming (Wyoming finished last in Mountain West) 2023-24: • UNM is losing by 17 right now at Saint Mary's
Halftime stat sheet: SMC 40, UNM 25 https://t.co/BmJlUFNGjM
Aidan Mahaney with 21 (SMC has 40) points at halftime. Gaels up 15 on a very good New Mexico team. Kid is different. This Gaels team is different.
HALFTIME: No. 23 Saint Mary's 40, New Mexico 25 • All SMC in the first half. Score is very indicative of the play.
Aidan Mahaney is SO much fun to watch. Has 20 with 1:48 left … in the first half. Saint Mary’s up a dozen on New Mexico.
My old friend @davebenz and I are calling the @SanJoseStateMBB game on @NBCSAuthentic against Bethesda. Game starts at 8 PM PST. @SJSUAthletics Tune in! https://t.co/aaFmLxqiqH
Mustapha Amzil hits 2 FTs and it's 29-23, SMC leads UNM with 3:30 left 1st half.
Media timeout (7:56 1H): Saint Mary's 24, New Mexico 15 • Gaels shooting 58.8% • Lobos shooting 35.3% • Assists are 7-1, SMC advantage. I wrote about the Gaels single most impressive stat every year is opponent assist rate. Long story short, they NEVER let teams get assists.
Donovan Dent steal and layup in transition and then Nelley Junior Joseph hits one of two FTs and it's 13-5, SMC up on UNM.
Media timeout (15:55 1H): Saint Mary's 9, New Mexico 2 • Last year in Moraga, SMC jumped out to a 13-2 lead before UNM settled down and eventually won. Haven't looked able to move the ball at all tonight on offense, though.
UNM Lobos point guard Jaelen House to miss Thursday night's game at No. 23 Saint Mary's https://t.co/CFOK32tkKg via @ABQJournal #mwbb
No Jaelen House tonight for the UNM Lobos at No. 23 Saint Mary's. (Street clothes... hip injury) https://t.co/o0Oh46oBgw
ICYMI: Preview of tonight's St. Mary's-New Mexico game. High stakes non-conference game in the first week of the season. Make sure to tune into the game tonight at 10 pm ET on ESPN+. https://t.co/d3xTpGa9Ab
Saint Mary's and New Mexico were two of the best mid-major teams last season. Tonight they battle in a highly-anticipated non-conference showdown. @ianrsacks breaks down the matchup. @saintmaryshoops @UNMLoboMBB @WCChoops @MountainWest https://t.co/Z4qDl8RQ4d