Peak Performance: Jake Hall’s Career Night Propels Lobos Into Three-Way Tie For First
New Mexico’s Jake Hall (23) drives around a San Jose State defender Saturday evening in San Jose, Ca. Hall finished with a career high 27-points on 7-9 three-point shooting. Photo: UNM Athletics
The University of New Mexico men's basketball team traveled near the very bottom of the Mountain West conference on Saturday night to reach the very top.
But it wasn't as easy a trip as anticipated.
Except, maybe, for freshman shooting star Jake Hall.
Coupled with Utah State's home win against San Diego State, the Lobos' 90-80 victory at lowly San Jose State created a three-way tie for first place in the Mountain West.
As a result, UNM, Utah State and San Diego State all share the top spot at 9-2 in league play.
Thanks to Hall's career-high 27 points, the Lobos never trailed against the Spartans, but they could never completely shake them.
"We've got to look at the film and see what we can clean up," said UNM coach Eric Olen
San Jose State (6-16, 1-10), meanwhile, remained just ahead of Air Force (3-18, 0-10) for the MW's doormat spot.
The Spartans have been plagued by injuries all season and were short three players on Saturday, yet hung tough against 15-point favored UNM (18-4) throughout the game, especially in the first half.
Hall was 4-of-5 from 3-point land and had 16 points in the opening half to lead the Lobos from the outset.
UNM grabbed a quick 8-2 advantage and kept the Spartans at bay, but never led by more than eight points in the opening 20 minutes.
The teams traded baskets much of the half with the Spartans' Colby Garland keeping his team in the game with 11 first-half points and Pasha Goodarzi hitting a pair of deep 3s.
The Lobos led 41-35 at the half, but Garland sliced that lead in half with a 3 in the opening minute of the second half.
UNM finally looked like it would take control when Tomislav Buljan had five straight points and Antonio CHol nailed a 3 to give the Lobos their first double digit lead at 49-38.
But again, the Spartans would answer back with a healthy dose of Garland and Jermaine Washington. Washington, who had zero points in the first half (0-5 FG), finished the game with 18 points and seemed to answer every Lobo run with his own.
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But the second half was much like the first, with the Lobos looking like they would blow it open before the Spartans looked like they would make a run.
Neither happened.
"We were kind of searching for solutions, but credit to (SJSU) for playing some real good basketball," Olen said.
Hall finished 10-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
"We were obviously aware (that first place was on the line)," Hall said. "We weren't discussing it in the locker room, but we were definitely aware of it."
The New Mexico freshman trio delivered once again and carried most of the scoring load. Aside from Hall's 27, Buljan finished with another double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, Uriah Tenette had 14, and Deyton Albury also scored 14. The Lobos also shot 21-24 (87.5%) from the free throw line.
