LAS VEGAS—UNM men’s basketball delivered a dominant performance in Las Vegas, routing rival UNLV 89–61 at the Thomas & Mack Center to improve to 17–4 overall and 8–2 in Mountain West play. The 29-point margin marked the Lobos’ largest win over the Runnin’ Rebels in 72 meetings. UNM seized control early behind a 13–2 first-half run sparked by Tomislav Buljan and never let UNLV find a rhythm. The Lobos finished with 44 points in the paint, forced 11 first-half turnovers, and recorded 21 assists. Buljan led UNM with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

LAS VEGAS—UNM heads to Las Vegas seeking a key Mountain West road win against a talented but inconsistent UNLV team. The Runnin’ Rebels, under first-year coach Josh Pastner, have shown a high ceiling with wins over Stanford and Utah State but also costly losses to lesser opponents. UNLV struggles with discipline and efficiency, particularly at the free-throw line, despite ranking seventh nationally in attempts. Guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn leads the offense, while Emmanuel Stephen and Tyrin Jones provide size inside. For UNM, taking care of the ball, handling UNLV’s athleticism, and defending the three-point line will be critical.