ALBUQUERQUE—UNM men’s basketball used stifling second-half defense and a smart offensive adjustment to defeat Grand Canyon 87–64 Tuesday at The Pit. After a tight first half, the Lobos clamped down defensively, holding the Lopes to 28% shooting and forcing tough, contested looks. Offensively, UNM countered GCU’s pick-and-roll drop coverage with mid-range jumpers and consistent trips to the free throw line, led by Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette. Strong physical play, balanced scoring, and impactful minutes from JT Rock helped UNM pull away and extend its home winning streak to 21 games.

The Mountain West conference’s newest rivalry tips off Tuesday night in the Pit, where UNM looks to remind Grand Canyon why coming to Albuquerque remains one of the league’s toughest road trips.

The Lopes (10-5) have started strong in their first season in the Mountain West conference and stand at 3-1 in league play. They are on a two-game win streak, having won 75-58 at Boise State on Wednesday, followed by a 76-58 victory at home against San Jose State on Saturday.