On Wednesday night, The Pit hosted the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), where the Lobos delivered a dominant performance against Sam Houston, winning 107–83 and advancing to the next round.
Following a tough semifinal loss in the Mountain West Conference tournament, it seemed unlikely that the Lobos would host another game this season. However, as the No. 1 seed in the Albuquerque region, New Mexico earned the opportunity to compete in the NIT—giving the team one more chance to showcase their hard work and determination.
The second half only widened the gap. Within the first three minutes, the Lobos extended their lead to 62–43. Although the Bearkats managed to string together a few plays midway through the half, they were unable to close the distance. New Mexico remained in control and secured a commanding 24-point victory.
Tomislav Buljan led the Lobos with 22 points and 10 rebounds, marking his 16th double-double of the season. Jake Hall also made history, setting the UNM single-season record for three-pointers.
The Lobos’ 107-point performance marks their highest scoring game in postseason play. With the win, New Mexico advances to the second round of the NIT and will return to The Pit on Sunday night to face George Washington.