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Walters Lifts New Mexico Past Wyoming, 47-45 The Lobos slip past the Cowboys to win fourth straight game.
Feb. 15, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Mark Walters scored 12 points to carry a lethargic New Mexico offense that sputtered and stumbled to a 47-45 win over Wyoming on Wednesday night. New Mexico (16-9, 7-5 Mountain West) won its fourth straight but it wasn't pretty. The Lobos shot 38.8 percent, hit just 3-of-14 on 3-pointers and nearly squandered a 10-point lead in the final 4:41 when their only points were a pair of free throws. Wyoming (12-13, 5-7) got 17 points from Steve Leven and 18 rebounds from Justin Williams, but the Cowboys' problems on offense outdid New Mexico. The Cowboys hit just 15-of-51 shots (29.4 percent) and their 45 points was a season low. Leven and freshman guard Brandon Ewing, averaging 12 points a game, were a combined 5-of-24 from the field, with Ewing going 1-for-10. Williams, second nationally with 116 blocked shots, didn't have one against New Mexico, only the second time this season he has failed to get a block. Still, the Cowboys had a chance until the final buzzer. With New Mexico missing shots and making turnovers, the Cowboys cut a 45-35 deficit with 4:41 left to 46-44 with 34.7 seconds remaining on Leven's bank shot. New Mexico center David Chiotti hit one of two free throws with 25.6 seconds left and the Cowboys set up Leven for a 3-pointer. Leven, who hit three 3s in the game, couldn't shake defender Kris Collins and his off-balance 3-pointer with six seconds left came up short. Wyoming got a final chance after Lobo guard Tony Danridge missed the front end of a one-and-one with 2.6 seconds remaining. Collins fouled Ewing in backcourt to prevent the Cowboys from getting off a 3-point attempt. Ewing hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but Walters tipped the ball out of bounds as time expired.
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