New Mexico 72-64 UCLA (November 8, 2024) Game Recap

HENDERSON, Nev. – Donovan Dent had 17 points and eight assists, Nelly Junior Joseph added 16 points and 12 rebounds for his 45th career double-double and New Mexico defeated No. 22 UCLA on Friday night at Las Las 72-64 Vegas Hoopfest.

It was New Mexico’s first win against a ranked non-conference team since defeating current UCLA coach Mick Cronin in Cincinnati during the 2012-13 season.

CJ Noland added 13 points for the Lobos (2-0). Junior Joseph was one of three New Mexico players to record a double-double in Monday’s season-opening win over Nicholls.

Tyler Bilodeau, a transfer from Oregon State, had 23 points and 15 rebounds for UCLA (1-1), which opened its season with an 85-50 win over Rider on Monday.

New Mexico held the Bruins 1-for-9 from the field in the first seven minutes of the second half, extending its 11-point halftime lead to 49-33.

New Mexico’s 11th steal led to Tru Washington’s fast-break dunk and a 58-43 lead. The Lobos led by at least eight the rest of the way.

Takeaways

In New Mexico, Nevada remained hot. The game was played at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, just minutes from where the Lobos defeated San Diego State 68-61 last season in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Key moment

Dent fumbled down the court on an inbounds pass with 7:52 left with the Lobos leading 62-48. He went to the locker room and UCLA took advantage by switching to a pressure defense while New Mexico’s star point guard was out. Dent returned with a strike to his left leg at 5:39 and scored on his first offensive possession to restore his double-digit lead at 68-57.

Key statistics

New Mexico turned good defense into offense by scoring 21 points off 21 UCLA turnovers.

Next

UCLA returns home to face Boston University on Monday. New Mexico hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

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