New Mexico grinds out win, grabs MWC top seed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- It was hardly a game for the highlight reels, but the New Mexico Lobos will take a sluggish, sloppy 53-42 victory over the visiting Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 14-ranked Lobos (25-4, 12-2) clinched at least a share of the Mountain West title. They will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament by virtue of having swept second-place Colorado State this season.

"Special group of young men to be in the league that's arguably the best in the country and to lead it wire-to-wire and win it speaks volumes about what these guys have been able to do," New Mexico coach Steve Alford said.

Wyoming (18-11, 4-11) dictated the slow pace of the game, but the Cowboys ran out of bullets in the second half.

"I felt like I was watching the movie 'Hoosiers' with no shot clock, trying to play that style," Alford said. "We've played against a lot of styles over the course of the season and that's what's special about this team. They just find ways to win."

Derek Cooke failed to convert a three-point play with about 10 minutes left, leaving Wyoming trailing 36-33.

The game then went to free throws as New Mexico pushed its advantage to 41-33, all from the line. Cooke got a point back for the Cowboys -- on their first free throw attempt of the night -- with six minutes to go.

After a timeout, Tony Snell nailed a 3-pointer that put the Lobos up 44-34, an almost insurmountable lead considering Wyoming's shooting woes (16-for-57).

New Mexico only shot 35.7 percent (15-for-42) from the floor, but the Lobos were 21-for-27 from the free throw line versus just 3-for-7 for the Cowboys.

"It wasn't a great shooting night on our part," Alford said. "I thought we got some looks and didn't make shots for 40 minutes. But to hold them the way we held them in points and field-goal percentage, that's outstanding defense. That's what's been consistent about this team all season long."

New Mexico's inside duo of Alex Kirk and Cameron Bairstow again came up big, with Kirk totaling 15 points and nine rebounds while Bairstow added 13 points and nine rebounds.

"Our bigs are good, they're real good and they're just getting better and better," Alford said. "They're getting better defensively, they're better on the boards, they're getting better on shots and how they play."

The Lobos have two games left in the regular season, at Nevada and Air Force, before they begin postseason play, with a possible high seed in the NCAA Tournament in the future.

"I think the sky's the limit," said Jamal Fenton, one of two New Mexico seniors honored after the game. "My freshman year, we went 30-5, that was a pretty good team. I think this team as a senior we have better chemistry than that team."

Riley Grabau made four 3-pointers en route to 14 total points to lead Wyoming.

The first half was an often ugly slog as the Cowboys did their best to slow down the Lobos. New Mexico held a 25-19 lead despite shooting 33 percent (8-for-24), including just 1-for-7 on 3-pointers.

Grabau kept Wyoming alive in the first half, going 3-for-6 from 3-point range. His second 3 gave the Cowboys their only lead at 13-12.

Cleveland Thomas then made four straight free throws to put the Lobos back ahead 16-13. Grabau tied it up again with his final 3 of the half, only to see Snell hit back-to-back jumpers.

Hugh Greenwood made one of two free throws to extend the Lobos' advantage to 21-16, but Derrious Gilmore countered with a 3-pointer.

The first half ended with a long jumper by Snell and an impressive final play when Kendall Williams stole the ball with two seconds left and unleashed a thunderous dunk.

NOTES: The Lobos and Cowboys entered the game with identical 38-23 records against each other on their respective home courts. Wyoming does have a 3-1 advantage on neutral courts to lead the overall series 64-62. ... New Mexico seniors Jamal Fenton and Chad Adams have played in more victories, 104, than any other two players in Lobos history.