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WNBALouisiana Tech (3-0) At New Mexico (3-0)
GAME NOTES: A couple of undefeated teams duke it out for the unofficial title at the World Vision Basketball Classic in The Pit tonight, as the New Mexico Lobos play host to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
New Mexico, which has yet to play anywhere outside of the state, dominated Nicholls State last night in an 83-59 final. The victory was the third in as many games for UNM, which has also defeated both UC Riverside and New Mexico State.
As for the Bulldogs, they too are 3-0 at the moment after defeating Miami-Ohio on Friday with a 74-62 final. That triumph follows wins against Lincoln (MO) and Texas-Pan American.
With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, New Mexico won the only previous meeting by a score of 90-84 back in 1992 at home.
Except for Magnum Rolle who tallied just six points because he was in foul trouble, every starter for the Bulldogs scored in double figures on Friday in the win over the RedHawks, beginning with Kyle Gibson with his 27 points. Gibson made all 12 of his free-throw attempts and also cleared eight rebounds for the squad. Olu Ashaolu recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards, while Jamel Guyton accounted for 15 points on the strength of his 5- of-9 shooting behind the three-point line, followed by DeAndre Brown with 10 points and four assists. Gibson is by far the top scoring option for the Bulldogs again this year, averaging better than 23 points per game at the moment, while Ashaolu already has a pair of double-doubles this season.
Just like LaTech, the Lobos also had four starters score in double figures last night, paced by the 18 points put up by Phillip McDonald on the strength of his 4-of-8 shooting behind the three-point line. Darington Hobson and Dairese Gary contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, followed by Roman Martinez with his 10 points and eight rebounds, matching A.J. Hardeman on the glass for the team lead. The Lobos outscored the visitors at the free-throw line, 28-16, and also kept their mistakes to a minimum with only eight turnovers, compared to 17 miscues for Nicholls State. Shooting almost as well from three-point range (.474) as he is the field at the moment (.514), Martinez leads the team in scoring with his 17.3 ppg and is also tied for the top spot with six rebounds per outing as well. McDonald accounts for 16.0 ppg and Hobson has done a little bit of everything thus far with 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
As new Mexico head coach Steve Alford has pointed out, being at home for these daily tournaments definitely should give his group a leg up against the competition, but with Gibson and Ashaolu playing well it might not be that easy tonight.
Predicted OutcomeLouisiana Tech 77, New Mexico 73Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
