Stoking the popularity of Lobo basketball by this time was the success of two longtime rivals. As a player Alford had been a prolific scorer and two-time All-American at Indiana, winning a national championship, and earning an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national team. [70][71] The Lobos opened the season with two losses before beating USC and Washington and winning at #7 UCLA. [147] The young squad showed promising signs early but struggled in conference to finish 1414. [87] Former UNM AD John Bridgers believed Colson had never received the full support of the Lobo community. [139] The Lobos lost to #13 Stanford in their opener but moved to 103 as Douglas led the way with 18 points a game. [55] The team finally broke through, winning another exciting game at UNLV, beginning a string of nine wins in its last ten games. "Bob King Court" was dedicated at formal ceremonies on December1, 1992, the 26th anniversary of the opening of The Pit. Media Guide 201314, pp.66,90. [224] He was an integral part of the Lobo fan experience, especially before most games were televised. The success of the program continued after King departed, winning WAC titles in 1974, 1978, and 1994, winning the conference tournament in 1993 and 1996, and regularly earning post-season tournament bids. [74] The Lobos were 101 when they lost to #5 Wake Forest, and 142 when Granger suffered an injury and missed three games, all losses. The Lobos, Aggies, and Miners played one another twice every season, home-and-away, and a fierce rivalry grew among them. In 1957, while still on faculty, Johnson oversaw construction of the 7,800-seat arena that bears his name, Johnson Gymnasium. [30], The 197677 team featured JC arrivals Michael Cooper, Marvin Johnson, and Willie Howard, the nucleus for a successful and exciting two-year run. In December 2014, Albuquerque-based restaurant chain WisePies Pizza & Salad purchased the naming rights for the arena, whose official name became "WisePies Arena (aka The Pit)". The 2013 Howl drew over 10,000 fans and featured the introduction of new coach Craig Neal, who entered the arena on his motorcycle. [116] Douglas was an explosive scorer and led the team with 16 points a game. Only four scholarship players remained on the team, so a campus tryout filled out the roster with walk-ons. The Lobos forced a turnover, down 6463, but their set play broke down and Gibson missed an unbalanced, driving shot, ending the Lobo season at 258. Johnson stepped down as head basketball coach after the 193940 season. [74] The Lobos beat a good Arizona team before losing a close game to #1 Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, the first time the Lobos had faced a top-ranked opponent. [42] Bill Hagins replaced Minniefield, and the team was again dominant inside. [163] The Lobos finished the season 296, their second-best record ever. Renovations completed in 2010 added space and state-of-the-art amenities for fans and players. [35], The "Lobogate" scandal involved forged academic transcripts, payments made for bogus Junior College credits, and other devices to attain eligibility for players who lacked academic credentials. Olney added 15 a game while shooting a Lobo record .513 from three-point range, as the team set the Lobo record for threes in a season. They rode the momentum into the WAC tournament championship game and beat the Utes behind a dominant 30-point, 17-rebound performance by Thomas, earning their tenth straight win and a berth in the NCAA tournament. Gordon had 21 points and 14 rebounds, but the team shot poorly from three-point range and could not overcome the deficit, finishing the season 287. During his nearly 40 years at UNM, Johnson coached every men's sport the school offered, while teaching physical education. Ellenberger was well-respected as a teacher of defense,[34][39] and he was a frequent participant in basketball coaching camps and workshops, where he became friends with UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian. 6 Nevada in The Pit. King then left to become head coach and Athletics Director at Indiana State University. All four Smith, Thomas, Long, and Shields were on the 199697 Lobo squad. The Lobos beat both in The Pit in the final week, however, then upset BYU on the way to winning their first WAC tournament championship, and securing a trip to the NCAA Tournament. [50][51] Willie Howard was a talented inside player averaging 13 points and six rebounds a game, frequently providing explosive scoring off the bench. Coach King died on December10, 2004. One stand-out was Kenny Page, a transfer from Ohio State. He remains the Lobo career leader in blocks and blocks per game; second in career field goals made; and the only Lobo to record a triple-double, doing so twice. The Lobos started out 8-6 in the non-conference, including a win against in-state rival New Mexico State where the game was delayed due to a power outage at Pan American Center. [23] Brown also won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the nation's top senior under six feet tall and gained an All-American Honorable Mention. [119] The Lobos then fell to eventual national champion Connecticut, shooting just 26%, to finish 259. The early departure of Hobson left the Lobos with just one senior again in 201011: Gary led with 14 points and 5.5 assists a game, carrying the young team at times. Gary injured his knee in the game, a sad career end for a four-year starter and steady leader. [114] The 199596 team added to that nucleus Albuquerque High star Kenny Thomas, a USA Today and Parade magazine High School All-American. 197374 Western Athletic Conference season Summary, Johnson had established the school record at 46 points earlier in the season before his 50-point performance, which broke the WAC conference single-game record and earned him the. [17][197], Attendance at Lobo games in The Pit has consistently been among the national leaders in college basketball, averaging over 15,400 fans per game since it opened. He became the fourth leading scorer in school history at the time in just two seasons, set single season records for total points, season points per game (24.0), career points per game (21.9), and he scored a still-school record 50 points in a single game. Media Guide 201314, p.79. [14] Harge averaged 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds a game during his two seasons at UNM and was selected in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. [84][85], In 198788 the Lobos were led by Charlie Thomas, a junior transfer from Wake Forest (17 points and 7.5 rebounds a game), and senior Greene (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds). The Lobos defeated Drake and NYU before falling to Bradley in the championship game, finishing with a 236 record and ranked 16th in the UPI poll. [106] White was named All-WAC and Bliss was WAC Coach of the Year; Brown was named All-WAC and WAC Player of the Year. Virginia scored the last eight points of the game to take the lead, and the Lobos missed three shots at tying the game in the last 12 seconds, finishing the season at 238. The 2019-2020 started promising for the Lobos. They lost in the conference tournament but received a berth in the NCAA Tournament as a ten-seed facing Virginia. Ellenberger was named head coach in March 1972 after serving as an assistant under King since 1967. Colson inherited a program under NCAA sanctions, with only three players remaining on scholarship. The team began the season 112 but lost four straight, struggling on the road. Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico for five seasons with a record of 8269 (.543) and one NCAA tournament appearance. [91] Smith led with 16 points and seven rebounds in his final game as a Lobo. [26] New Mexico State hired Lou Henson as head coach in 1966, and like the Lobos under King, in his second season the Aggies began achieving national rankings and post-season tournament appearances. Smith was named All-WAC, and Colson was named WAC Coach of the Year. The Lobos swept #8 New Mexico State, with Gibson hitting a memorable last-second shot in the latter game, leading to a brief return to the national rankings. [23], The 199697 Lobos returned all their principal players, while adding freshman Lamont Long, who would become a starter by mid-season. [106] They then faced six-seed Louisville in a closely contested game that went down to the final play. [23] The Lobos returned to the NIT, losing at The Pit to Lamar and finishing the season 2411. The team reached the NIT tournament final in 1964 and received its first bid to the NCAA tournament in 1968. [35][87], Dave Bliss recorded the most wins as head coach in Lobo history, compiling a 246108 (.695) record, with seven NCAA tournament appearances and three trips to the NIT. [102] Banks was named All-WAC and finished as Lobo career leader (now second) in three-point percentage. [41] In late February the Lobos were 213, ranked #15, and leading the WAC, before losing their last two games and finishing second in conference. [33] King continued as AD until retiring the next year. They were ranked in the top ten for much of the 196768 season, peaking at #4, and they were in the top 20 most of the following season. [104], The 199293 Lobos had an experienced core with Williams, Logan, and Jaxon returning as seniors. [63] Bridgers had been replaced as AD the year before by John Koenig, who did not believe Colson could take the Lobos to the next level. They have won the MWC regular season championship and the conference tournament four times each. Media Guide 201314, pp.67,87. Complicating matters, Koenig himself was fired three months later and eventually faced indictment on criminal charges for his activities as AD. [134][135], Before the 19992000 season, the Lobos and seven other teams left the WAC to form the Mountain West Conference (MWC). Media Guide 201314, pp.67,69,71,77,88. In 1931, Lobo athletic teams began competing in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, joining as a founding member along with other regional schools. 22 Wyoming. The design of the arena makes it one of the loudest venues in college basketball, creating a hostile playing environment for visitors. [100], The 199192 Lobos featured a balanced offense, with all five starters averaging in double figures, but they lacked a go-to scorer. [101] The team started slowly, including a home loss to #2 Arizona, but later won seven of eight to gain an early share of the WAC lead. [187] Williams finished his career as the fifth leading scorer in Lobo history, third in assists, and the MWC career assists leader. They went to the NIT and beat South Florida before losing at eventual champion Wake Forest, finishing 1814. [213] On April 27, 2017, UNM asked WisePies to relinquish the naming rights, per the terms of the agreement, and WisePies agreed to do so. Because his best play is to dribble down the court and shoot it. [196] In Mountain West play, however, the Lobos went 5-12. They went 7414 (.841) from 1967 to 1970, including a 273 season in 196970 in which they were ranked in the top five most of the year, culminating in a Final Four appearance. UNM finished the season 14-18 and in 7th place in the Mountain West. [161] Martinez added 14 points and six rebounds a game, and Gary 13 points and four assists. They then lost three league road games and fell to third in a tight WAC race. [63], In their first three seasons under Colson, the Lobos struggled to a 3944 combined record. [23] He finished with career averages of 19.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and his 23 double-doubles in 196970 still stands as the Lobo season record. The Lobos began the season 101, but youth caught up to them in league play and they went .500 the rest of the way. Thomas tallied 1,158 points and 529 rebounds in his career and ranks third in career field goal percentage. [89] Knight acknowledged that he had seriously considered the offer but eventually declined, stating that he did not have the energy that would be required. In the 2018-2019 season, Weir was reliant on four transfers from both Division 1 programs or junior college transfers, as well as returning senior Anthony Mathis. The Lobos were ranked #10 and received a three-seed in the NCAA tournament, facing Harvard, but they again turned in a disappointing performance. ", coupled with a hand gesture emulating a wolf. The team had relied heavily on its starters and was worn down with fatigue and injuries. The scheme also employed a full-court pressing, trapping defense to generate points off of turnovers. [215], On September 18, 2020, it was announced that the naming rights deal with Dreamstyle Remodeling was ending after only three years. [83] Scarborough was named All-WAC and finished his career second (now third) in Lobo history in total assists. The team entered the year #18 and would remain ranked throughout the next three seasons. Alford compiled a 4730 (.610) record in road games, the only Lobo coach over .500 on the road. Brown again led the Lobos in 198586 with 20.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, earning All-WAC recognition. [195] Pitino inherited 6 transfers, including a trio of Power-5 talent in Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr., and Gethro Muscadin. [6][11] For many years, Johnson Gym was the most prominent feature of the UNM campus for those driving along Central Avenue in Albuquerque, part of historic U.S. Route 66. The Lobos were among the top 12 in the nation in scoring for Ellenberger's final three years, topping a hundred points 25 times and registering six of the school's top eight single-game scoring totals. [172] They dropped a pair of league games but then won seven straight, winning at #13 San Diego State and trouncing #11 UNLV to take the league lead and climb into the national rankings at #18. Everybody knows that's not a great basketball play, but for us it was terrific. The day before the NCAA tournament began, UNM announced a ten-year contract extension with Alford; ten days later he resigned to take the head coaching position at UCLA. Fran Fraschilla coached at New Mexico for three seasons, compiling a 5541 (.572) record with three NIT appearances. [163], The 201213 Lobo squad was dominated by juniors and sophomores, though all were veteran contributors, including three returning starters. [119] He was again named All-WAC and finished as the leading scorer in Lobo history, with 1,993 points, and the leader in field goals made, having started every game of his career. [192][193]It was also later revealed that UNM basketball players were also at the party after a 22 point loss to Nevada, after they had taken a charter flight that night. [42] Their shooting touch eluded them in the tournament, as several players were suffering from food poisoning before the game. [167] He was joined by UCLA transfer Drew Gordon, who averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds, and the program's most successful freshman class to date, including starter Kendall Williams who scored 12 points a game. Media Guide 201213, pp.76,89. Fraschilla felt he had his system and recruits in place going into the 200102 season, and Lobo fans were eager for the team to return to the NCAA tournament. [66] Harrison and his players gained fan appreciation for persevering under difficult circumstances, but he served primarily as a caretaker until a new head coach was named. Misfortune turned to tragedy with the murder of former Lobo Patrick Dennehy leading to a scandal at Baylor implicating Dave Bliss and the suicide of Lobo transfer Billy Feeney. They lost in the 2018 Mountain West Championship to San Diego State 82-75. The team began the season 83 but struggled away from The Pit, losing its first seven road games. [154][173][174] Williams, Snell, and center Alex Kirk led a balanced attack with seven players leading the team in scoring in individual games. [29] Longley was again named All-WAC and finished his career as Lobo leader in scoring and rebounding, falling since to sixth in points and second in rebounds. Fraschilla resigned shortly after the season, concluding that "it was best for everyone that I leave."[138][140]. [5], Roy Johnson, nicknamed "Old Iron Head", was fundamental to the early development of Lobo athletics. Alford was again named MWC Coach of the Year, and Gary was All-MWC. Long scored 1,840 points. [19][20] The Lobos reached #3 with an 111 record but then lost four straight and fell out of the rankings.