New Mexico advanced to the semifinals for the first time since the 2001 season, snapping a string of four straight MWC Tournament losses, two of which were at the hands of BYU. The Lobos, now 3-5 all-time in the MWC Tournament, face the winner of Air Force vs. San Diego State Friday at 10 p.m. on ESPN.
Today's win vs. BYU was the first for the Lobos in four meetings vs. the Cougars in the MWC Tournament.
In the last five MWC Tournaments, BYU has either captured the title or been knocked out by the eventual champion. BYU is now 7-5 all-time in MWC Tournament games.
New Mexico's 85 points today are the most by any team in the MWC Tournament since UNLV's double-overtime win over the Lobos (120-117) in the 2002 quarterfinals.
In the two games Granger played vs. BYU this season, the Lobos won by an average of 16.5 points per game (85-71 today and 91-72 Feb. 19). Granger did not play in a 53-68 loss at BYU Jan. 24.
Mark Walters tallied his second double-double of the year and fourth of his career with 12 points and a career-high 12 assists. Walters' 12 assists ties the MWC season-high and is second only to Mark Dickel's (UNLV) 18 dishes in the 2000 semifinal vs. Wyoming in MWC Tournament play.
New Mexico used a 14-4 run to build a 28-20 lead at the 6:30 mark of the first half and stretched the lead to 39-28 at intermission. The Lobos used a 10-0 second-half run to extend the lead to 65-44 before coasting to the victory. The Lobos are now a perfect 10-0 vs. the MWC and 14-1 overall when leading at the half this season.
Jared Jensen shot 69 percent (16-of-23) from the field in two meetings vs. New Mexico this season, totaling 39 points (19.5 average). Two of Jensen's three career-high scoring games came vs. New Mexico (19 points today and 20 points Feb. 19).
BYU committed seven of its nine first-half turnovers in the last 5:42 of the half. The Lobos scored 11 of their 39 first-half points off Cougar miscues.
David Chiotti (6) and Danny Granger (7) teamed up to score 13-of-15 Lobo points in the first six-plus minutes of the second half.
Granger topped his season averages in nearly every statistical category vs. BYU, totaling 23 points, five assists, four blocks and three steals. He also added eight rebounds, just .5 below his average. Granger has now scored double figures in 23 straight games.
New Mexico's Alfred Neale tied UNLV's Michael Umeh with the all-time best three-point shooting percentage in the MWC Tournament quarterfinals as each hit 4-of-5 treys today (80 percent).
