Heavy Officiating Overshadows Strong UNM Defense in Win Over Fresno State
Tajavis Miller shoots a layup in UNM’s 83-74 win over Fresno State on Jan. 21. Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics.
If the always calm and cool Eric Olen picks up a technical foul, the officiating must have been that bad, right?
UNM men’s basketball’s underwhelming 83-74 defeat of Fresno State in the Pit on Wednesday was never in doubt, but it was overshadowed by the 39 combined fouls called by Mountain West officials Andy O’Brien, Daryl Gelinas and Jeb Hartness.
UNM was whistled for 16 fouls in the second half, and Olen was called for what was only his third ever technical foul of his coaching career with two minutes and eight seconds to play.
“I told the official I had high expectations for tonight,” Olen said. “I’m sure that’s going to disappoint some of the Lobo fans who want me to lose it on the officials. I’m not sure that was warranted, but it happens.”
UNM was in firm control of the game up 69-49 with 5:50 to play, before the whistles started to draw boos from the Pit crowd. Eleven of Fresno State’s 22 second half free throws came in the final 5:36 of the game, which allowed the Bulldogs to make the score seem closer than the game really was.
UNM was led by its defense. With Fresno State playing without its top playmaker Zaon Collins, the Lobos had a season high of 18 steals and forced 22 total turnovers that turned into 29 points.
“We always try to turn up the heat,” said UNM guard Luke Haupt who filled the stat sheet with nine points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds. “We think our half court defense is really good so if we turn up the pressure, team’s are going to struggle against us.”
Fresno State was led in scoring by reigning Mountain West freshman of the week Deshawn Gory who finished with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds.
“A little surprised by how he shot it, but credit to him,” Olen said. “He had not been shooting the ball well coming in…We didn’t do a good job controlling his penetration, specifically late but again some of that was the circumstances…”
UNM built a double digit-lead early in the first half on an 11-0 run that started at the 15:03 mark with a 3-pointer from Jake Hall.
Hall led all scorers for UNM with 16 points, and his 54 made 3-pointers this season is one 3-pointer shy of Kendall Williams’ freshman record of 55 set in 2010-2011.
Uriah Tenette was UNM’s second leading scorer with 15 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and four steals. It was the second home game in a row where the freshman Hall and Tenette led the Lobos in scoring. Fellow freshman Tomislav Buljan posted another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, UNM had another difficult night shooting the basketball going 32 of 75 (42%) from the field and 10 of 35 (29%) from the 3-point line.
Antonio Chol finished the game with 8 points, but was 2-of-10 from beyond the arc.
“We want him shooting those shots,” Olen said. “I like his shot profile. If he continues to get them we want him to keep shooting them. He’s a high volume three-point shooter who can do it an efficient level. He’s playing exactly how we want him to play. We’re really pleased with how he’s playing and his shot selection.”
UNM turned it’s 43 missed shots into 13 offensive rebounds and 20 second chance points.
The Lobos will take Nevada in the Pit on Saturday at 6 pm.
