New Mexico defeats Air Force 49-91

New Mexico Dominates Air Force in Statement Win

The University of New Mexico men's basketball team sent a strong statement to the Mountain West Conference on Saturday night, cruising to a 91-49 victory over the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena.

New Mexico's (AWAY) impressive performance was marked by a dominant second half, as the Lobos outscored their hosts 45-22 to seal the decisive blow. The final margin of 42 points was the largest of the night, with the most significant leads changing hands just five times throughout the contest.

Jake Hall led New Mexico in scoring, connecting on 5-of-10 three-point attempts for a game-high 24 points. Tomislav Buljan chipped in 14 rebounds and seven points off the bench to complement his teammates' efforts.

For Air Force (HOME), Kam Sanders paced the team with 13 points, including one three-pointer, while Caleb Walker provided a balanced effort with seven rebounds and 11 points.

New Mexico's attack was well-rounded from beyond the arc, where they shot 50.0% from two-point range to go along with a 39.0% clip on three-point attempts. The Lobos also boasted a significant edge in fast break points, outscoring Air Force 15-1.

Advanced metrics reinforced New Mexico's superiority, as their eFG% (58.2%) and True Shooting percentage (61.5%) were significantly higher than those of the Falcons. In contrast, Air Force struggled to find its rhythm from beyond the arc, going just 17.0% on three-point attempts.

The outcome was no surprise, given New Mexico's history as a perennial conference powerhouse. This win served as a statement, demonstrating the team's depth and resilience against even the toughest opponents. The Lobos' victory sets them up for continued success in their Mountain West Conference schedule.