New Mexico Dominates Santa Clara 98–71 In A Home Win At The Pit

Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics

By Roger A. Holien — Mountain West Connection | Post-game review

New Mexico had its strongest performance so far this season on Saturday night, defeating Santa Clara 98–71 in front of a lively crowd of 13,614 at The Pit.

Against a Broncos team that entered the game ranked 35th in the NET, the Wolves didn’t just win — they showed their dominance, showing how quickly this group is developing under first-year head coach Eric Olen.

What many expected to be a competitive non-conference matchup quickly turned into a showcase of UNM’s depth, pace and cohesion.

New Mexico looked sharper, faster and much more connected than it did just two weeks ago. This was a team that felt like a much more finished product, not an unfinished job.

A program that takes shape

Santa Clara was building an impressive resume this season: double-digit wins over Minnesota, Nevada and Xavier showed its progress.

Santa Clara started strong, exchanging blows in a fast-paced first half. But when New Mexico found its defensive rhythm, the momentum changed dramatically.

The Lobos turned stops into transition baskets, controlled the rebounds and set the pace of the game.

Leading 45-36 at halftime, UNM rallied after the break. What was a close game quickly turned into a blowout. The Lobos briefly led 47-46 early in the second half, but then pulled away.

Over the next 12 minutes, New Mexico went on a 43-point run, bringing the score to 90-57 with 4:22 remaining.

The 33-point lead became the largest of the night and the turning point of the game. Santa Clara never recovered. This was the version of Wolves fans were waiting to see: a relentless, athletic, selfless team capable of overwhelming opponents in waves.

Featured performances

The most encouraging sign? New Mexico stood out without depending on a single star. Seven Lobos scored at least eight points and every player in the rotation contributed.

Antonio Chol – 15 points (6–7 field goals), 4 rebounds

Set the initial tone with cutting scores and confident mid-range shots.

Tomislav Buljan – 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 7 fouls drawn

After sitting out Monday with an ankle issue, Buljan returned with his best performance as a Lobo: an interior force, controlling the paint and anchoring the attacking zone.

Jake Hulett: 13 points (5–7 field goals)

A great spark off the bench, who scores at all three levels and provides instant energy.

Deyton Albury – 11 points, 4 points

Firm, composed and unflappable: he controlled the pace and organized the offensive.

Chris Howell – 11 points, 6 rebounds

Physical, relentless and active at the rim.

JT Rock – 11 points, 6 reb (in 12 minutes)

The Iowa State transfer provided his most commanding outing yet, altering shots, running the floor and intimidating the Santa Clara interior. His presence changed the physical aspect of the game.

Urías Tenette – 8 points (3–4 FG)

Fast and confident minutes off the bench, with playing ability and pace.

New Mexico’s bench outscored Santa Clara’s 36-17, underscoring how deep this roster has become.

The Santa Clara shooting

Santa Clara leaned heavily on her trio of guards:

But while the Broncos created plenty of scoring opportunities, their long-range shooting was poor.

Santa Clara made 44 3-pointers but only made 10: a cold 23% that crushed any chance of keeping up with UNM’s high efficiency.

Despite grabbing 18 offensive rebounds, the Broncos were unable to convert second-chance opportunities into points or gain momentum.

Why the Wolves controlled the confrontation

Nearly every major statistical category tilted decisively toward New Mexico:

Points in the painting: UNM 50 – SCU 28
Counterattack Points: UNM 29 – SCU 3
Field goal percentage: UNM 60% – SCU 38%
Bank Score: UNM 36 – SCU 17
Decisive increase in the second half: 12-1 UNM run that opened things up

The Wolves were faster, tougher and more efficient. Their defense sparked their offense, and their offense never let Santa Clara breathe.

This was a complete performance, possibly the most complete the Wolves have given all season.

A team on the rise

Saturday wasn’t just a victory; It was evidence of a team finding its identity: sharing the ball, playing tough defense, attacking quickly in transition and trusting the system.

The roles are increasingly defined. Rotations are improving. Communication is improving. And confidence around The Pit is growing rapidly.

If New Mexico continues down this path, it will not only be competitive in the Mountain West; They will become one of the hardest teams to beat in the league.

The next step: a decisive road challenge

New Mexico now shifts its focus to a crucial road challenge: Wednesday at VCUone of the most hostile home environments in the country outside of the Mountain West.

UNM leaves Albuquerque with momentum, confidence and its best performance of the season. Wednesday will show how high this team’s potential could be.