Rapid Reaction - Nick Nunez

Tulsa defeats New Mexico 74-69 in the NIT to advance to the NIT Finals.

Gamer:

“If you live by the three, you die by the three” proved only half true for UNM men’s basketball on Thursday night—because while Tulsa’s outside shooting set the tone, it was UNM’s missed chances and late-game lapses that ultimately sealed a 74–69 NIT semifinal loss and ended the Lobos’ season.

Tulsa’s hot 3-point shooting was not the killer blow, but it was the first punch that gave the Golden Hurricane a seven-point advantage at the half 36-29.

Before the team left for Indianapolis, UNM men’s basketball coach Eric Olen was asked if his team would revert to their same defensive philosophy of “protect the paint” against a high volume nad efficient 3-point shooting team like Tulsa that shot 38% from three coming into this game. .

Olen’s response:

“That’s always a pillar of what we’re trying to do,” Olen said. “How we rotate, the urgency we rotate, our ability to contest (shots), can we win in rotation? I think those are going to be the questions we got to answer on Thursday.”

The Pit Press is joined by Mike Cooper of The Scarlet Standard (UNLV) and Brennan Williams of Go Lopes Radio (GCU) to preview the MWC MBB Tourney. We give our picks, predications, and takes with a little Vegas flare.

Despite a historic, 32-point masterpiece from freshman phenom Jake Hall, who shattered a 30-year-old school scoring record in the process, the University of New Mexico couldn't withstand a relentless Utah State assault. In a 94-90 thriller that lived up to the hype but delivered a knockout blow to the Lobos’ at-large hopes, New Mexico saw both a share of the conference title and their NCAA Tournament at-large chances slip through their fingers.

Gamer: https://www.pitpressnm.com/news/lobo-bubble-pops-in-logan-jake-halls-night-not-enough

Pit West (MWC Tourney) Primer: https://www.pitpressnm.com/news/the-pit-west-awaits-can-the-lobos-conquer-the-mwc-gauntlet