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Lobos Cruise Past Western New Mexico In Exhibition Opener New Mexico hosts Abilene Christian in season opener on Friday, Nov. 10.
Nov. 2, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Junior transfer J.R. Giddens scored 20 points to lead New Mexico to an easy 98-42 exhibition victory over Western New Mexico on Thursday night at The Pit. The Lobos held the Mustangs scoreless for the first six minutes and Giddens scored 16 points in the first half to put the game out of reach early. UNM head coach Ritchie McKay played all 14 players on the roster as New Mexico built a 39-17 lead at the break. Giddens, a transfer from Kansas, made an immediate impact in his first game in cherry and silver, going 7-8 from the floor and blocking a shot into the stands in the first half. The 6-5 guard also had a thunderous dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet early in the second half. Senior forward Aaron Johnson, a transfer from Penn State, had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Junior swingman Tony Danridge, New Mexico's lone returning starter, added 12 points, while sophomore guard Ryan Kersten had 10 points and five assists. Western New Mexico struggled all night against an active UNM defense, hitting just 14-69 (20.3%) from the floor, including 4-29 (13.8%) from three-point range. New Mexico outrebounded the overmatched Mustangs 55-33. UNM improved to 20-2 all-time against WNMU in a series that started 91 years ago with a 39-13 Mustang victory in Silver City on Feb. 13, 1915. New Mexico opens the season officially on Friday, Nov. 10 when it hosts Abilene Christian in the 40th anniversary of the inaugural game in University Arena. ACU was the Lobos' first opponent when The Pit first opened its doors on Dec. 1, 1966.
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