AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—New Mexico?s two leading scorers may have combined for only seven points, but it didn?t cost the Lobos against Air Force on Wednesday night.
Phillip McDonald scored 25 points and New Mexico (17-3, 3-2 Mountain West) connected on 13 3-pointers en route to a 73-50 victory over the Falcons (8-9, 0-4). The Lobos beat the Falcons for the fifth consecutive time and picked up their third straight victory. Air Force has dropped five of its last six.
“This was the best we?ve executed in a long time,” New Mexico coach Steve Alford said. “We only turned the ball over nine times, made the extra pass and got the ball going inside out. To have our two leading scorers not scoring much and win by 23 on the road, your execution has been pretty good.”
McDonald hit a career-high seven 3-pointers on 10 attempts, and the Lobos sank nine of their 3-pointers in the second half to pull away. McDonald’s 25 points were just two shy of his career high, which came this season against New Mexico State.
“I just wanted to work hard,” McDonald said. “We started out sluggish, but I think I did a pretty good job of picking everybody?s energy up. I?ve been dealing with inconsistency.”
Darington Hobson, the Lobos? leading scorer, was held to just four points—12 off his season average—but contributed 12 rebounds. Second-leading scorer Roman Martinez was held to three points, but Nate Garth scored 12 points, and Dairese Gary added 10 to pick up the slack.
The Falcons hit just 3 of 24 shots from beyond the arc.
“We lost the game on the defensive end of the floor,” Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said. “Early on we did a good job of defending the 3, but in the second half some of their 3s came out of transition. I played 10 guys double minutes tonight, and five of those were freshmen. They?ve got to grow up fast, and now?s their time.”
Evan Washington led Air Force with 16 points, while Derek Brooks and Michael Lyons each added 10.
New Mexico dominated every facet of the game, outrebounding Air Force 38-29 and forcing 14 Falcons turnovers while committing nine. After hitting just 4 of 12 3-pointers in the opening half, the Lobos were 9 of 15 from 3-point range in the second half.
Air Force scored the first six points before New Mexico tied it with back-to-back 3-pointers in a first half that featured three lead changes and five ties. The Lobos held the Falcons to 1-of-11 shooting from 3-point range in the half and took a 31-24 lead to the locker room.
Air Force was again without leading scorer Grant Parker, who missed his 10th consecutive game with a severely strained groin. Reynolds said Parker was participating in limited practice drills but didn?t pinpoint a time for his return.
