By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
New Mexico took control of the Mountain West race last week with an 82-63 win over Utah State, marking the first time the Lobos have opened Mountain West play at 10-1.
It was also the Lobos’ first win in Logan since 2015, snapping a seven-game slide against the Aggies on the road. The 19-point loss for USU was their largest at home since falling to Utah 60-41 in the 1996-97 season.
UNM now stands alone at the top of the MW standings with one loss while Utah State joins Colorado State with two losses. San Diego State has three losses in conference play.
The Lobos ran their win streak to four games with the win in Logan, equaling the longest active streak in the conference.
The Rams and Aztecs are also enjoying four-game win streaks, having worked their way into the race.
Conference-Leading Lobos Look to Build on Historic Start against Rams
The biggest game this midweek once again involves the Lobos as they look to maintain their momentum against Colorado State.
The Rams have been fueled all season by the play of Nique Clifford, but the stretch he is on in the last three games has never been done by a Mountain West player.
The guard has recorded three straight games with at least 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. No conference player has ever had a three-game stretch producing numbers that good in all three categories.
UNM has won nine of their last 10 while CSU has won nine of their last 11 contests. Both teams enter the matchup in Albuquerque getting it done in different ways.
The Lobos score in bunches averaging 81.5 points per game, the 22nd most in the nation, and are getting 16.9 fast break points per game this season, seventh in the country.
The Rams are scoring at a lower rate but rank 21st in the nation shooting 62.9% on non-blocked two-point FGs this season. CSU is holding opponents to 50.4% on such shots this season, ranking 12th in the nation.
Aztecs Relying on Suffocating Defense in Effort to Stay in Race
San Diego State has a midweek bye but will take center stage against the Rams on Saturday night.
A huge factor, both literally and figuratively, in the Aztecs’ successful four-game streak has been the play of their 7-foot freshman Magoon Gwath.
In the last four games, the big man has averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots per game.
His ability to control the glass will be of particular importance against CSU as the Rams boast a rebound rate of nearly 55% in their current four-game win streak.
The Aztec defense has been suffocating limiting opponents to just 36.5% from the field this season, which is the third-best field goal percentage defense in the nation.
We still have plenty of basketball left, but this week could prove pivotal. If the Rams can get a pair of wins they will be sitting pretty.
The Lobos have a serious chance to create some separation from their rivals. San Diego State has a chance to show the league and the nation for that matter, that they are not going anywhere.
SuperWest Player of the Week: Nelly Junior Joseph, F, New Mexico
In the win over Utah State, Joseph connected on all seven of his field goal attempts while scoring 15 points, pulling in 13 rebounds, and blocking a shot.
He ended the night with a game-high +17 plus/minus rating. It was his 11th double-double of the season.
SuperWest Freshman of the Week: Magoon Gwath, C, San Diego State
Gwath played a big role in San Diego State’s two-point win over Wyoming.
The center blocked four shots, scored 14 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
