The No. 25 New Mexico Lobos (18-3, 5-3 MWC), one of the nation’s top scoring teams, play host to the Air Force Falcons (12-9, 3-5 MWC) on Friday.
Air Force was dismantled by the San Jose State Spartans 82-52 at Provident Credit Union Event Center on Tuesday. Camden Vander Zwaag was a top performer in defeat with 11 points.
The Falcons remain eighth in the Mountain West Conference. New Mexico lost a close one on Monday at Lawlor Events Center, falling to the Nevada Wolf Pack 97-94 in double overtime. Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 33 points in the loss, carrying the team. The Lobos remain fifth in the Mountain West Conference.
It’s the only meeting of the season between the teams. New Mexico won both games between the teams last season, the last of which was a 69-65 triumph at The Pit in February 2022. Mashburn Jr. led the Lobos with 24 points, while Jaelen House added 16 points. Joe Octave had 18 points in the loss.
The Falcons have been led this season by Jake Heidbreder, who is averaging 14.3 points per game. Meanwhile, Rytis Petraitis is grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game, and Ethan Taylor is dishing 3.5 assists.Mashburn Jr. (19.3 ppg) and House (17.3) have powered the Lobos on offense.
House also has distributed 4.8 assists per game. Morris Udeze has averaged 8.5 rebounds per game. The Lobos are one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, ranking 14th with 82.5 points per game.
The Falcons have not found any success at The Pit in recent seasons, winless in the last 10 visits.In the last 10 games, Air Force is 5-5 with an average margin of -3.6 (66.7-70.3).
For the season, the Falcons are averaging 68.1 points per game, compared to 65.2 for opponents. New Mexico has gone 7-3 over the last 10, scoring 81.2 points per game on average while allowing 73.7 (+7.5 margin).
FALCONS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jeffrey Mills: 6.7 | 10.8 | -4.2
Points per game:
Jake Heidbreder: 9.8 | 14.3 | -4.5
Rebounds per game:
Rytis Petraitis: 7.4 | 5.6 | +1.8
Corbin Green: 1.8 | 3.4 | -1.6
Assists per game:
Jeffrey Mills: 1.3 | 2.9 | -1.6
LOBOS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Sebastian Forsling: 2.3 | 3.6 | -1.4
Points per game:
Jamal Mashburn Jr.: 24.8 | 19.3 | +5.5
Rebounds per game:
Morris Udeze: 10.8 | 8.5 | +2.3
Assists per game:
Donovan Dent: 1.6 | 2.7 | -1.1
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
New Mexico -12.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
