The Mountain West Conference was buzzing with anticipation on February 7, 2026, as the New Mexico Lobos hosted the Boise State Broncos at The Pit in Albuquerque. Both the men’s and women’s basketball programs were in the spotlight, but the storylines couldn’t have been more different. For the men, it was a battle for momentum and postseason positioning; for the women, a tale of a streak snapped in dramatic fashion.
Let’s start with the men’s contest—a matchup that had fans and analysts alike circling their calendars. The Lobos entered the night with an impressive 18-5 overall record and a 9-3 mark in conference play, boasting a fearsome 12-1 record at home. The Pit has long been known as one of college basketball’s most intimidating venues, and New Mexico’s home-court dominance this season only reinforced that reputation. Boise State, meanwhile, arrived with a 14-9 overall record and a 6-6 ledger in the Mountain West, searching for consistency in a season marked by ups and downs.
Boise State came into Albuquerque riding high after an overtime comeback win against Nevada. That victory injected much-needed belief into the Broncos’ locker room. As BNN’s Nathan Carroll described it, "Boise State men's basketball has been a roller coaster this season. Right when you think you have a good feel about this team, they zag. When things look their bleakest, they've responded." The Broncos were aiming to improve to 7-6 in conference play and, perhaps more importantly, to sweep New Mexico for the season after a gritty 62-53 win in their previous meeting.
For New Mexico, the stakes were equally high. The Lobos were looking to bounce back from a tough 86-66 loss to Utah State—a defeat that stung, but also served as a wake-up call. With the conference race tightening, every possession at The Pit carried postseason implications. The Lobos’ strength all season had been their two-way profile, outscoring opponents by 12.1 points per game and holding foes to just 68.8 points on 40.8% shooting from the field and 29.3% from deep. Their ability to force turnovers (+3.2 margin) and protect their home floor were seen as key advantages.
The matchup had the makings of a classic contrast in styles. New Mexico’s offense, led by guard Jake Hall (15.3 points per game, 43.2% from three), forward Tomislav Buljan (12.6 points, 10.0 rebounds per game), and the steady backcourt play of Deyton Albury and Uriah Tenette, was built on efficient shooting and ball security. Hall, in particular, had been on a tear in league play, averaging 16.3 points and hitting 45.7% from beyond the arc.
Boise State countered with a physical, foul-line-oriented attack. Drew Fielder, the Broncos’ leading scorer, averaged 13.3 points on 54.2% shooting, while Andrew Meadow provided spacing with his 40.5% three-point shooting. Dylan Andrews, fresh off a 25-point night against Nevada, was the x-factor, capable of getting downhill and piling up free throws—Boise State averaged a whopping 18.7 made free throws per game, a stabilizing force for any underdog on the road.
The statistical chess match was evident in the pregame analysis. New Mexico’s defense was designed to shrink the floor and force turnovers, a tough ask for a Boise team that entered the game with a negative turnover margin (-0.9) and a defense that allowed opponents to shoot 45.7% from the field. Yet, Boise’s prowess on the glass (+6.7 rebounding margin, 36.3 boards per game) offered a glimmer of hope. As Dan Johnson wrote for DraftKings Network, "Boise’s rebuttal is loud on the glass, though—+6.7 rebounding margin and 36.3 boards per game—and that’s the kind of travelable edge that can keep an underdog breathing even when shots flatten."
The betting markets reflected the intrigue. New Mexico was a 5.5-point favorite, with an over/under set at 150.5 points. The Lobos had been 6-6 against the spread when favored by 5.5 or more, while Boise State was 1-1 as an underdog of that size. The combined average points per game for the two teams was 159.6—well above the posted total—hinting at the potential for fireworks.
Predictions varied, but the consensus leaned toward a tight contest. Johnson’s projection was New Mexico 78, Boise State 70, citing the Lobos’ ability to force turnovers and suppress three-point shooting as decisive factors. Yet, Boise’s ability to win the glass and manufacture points at the line kept the door open for an upset. The Broncos had already shown they could make every possession a grind, as evidenced by their earlier win over New Mexico.
On the women’s side, the story was one of frustration and missed opportunities. The New Mexico Lobos women’s team entered their game against Boise State on a four-game win streak, sitting at 16-7 overall and 8-4 in conference. But on this Saturday in Boise, nothing seemed to fall their way. The Lobos shot a dismal 25% from the floor and failed to score double digits in any of the first three quarters, ultimately falling 63-35 to the Broncos. The defeat snapped their streak and dropped them to 16-8 and 8-5 in the Mountain West.
Destinee Hooks led New Mexico with eight points but was hampered by foul trouble, spending much of the first half on the bench after picking up her third foul early in the second quarter. "At some point you've got to make a shot," coach Mike Bradbury lamented. "For the majority of the game we played good defense and played hard. We got the shots we wanted most of the game, too. We just couldn't make anything. It was kind of unbelievable." The Lobos narrowly avoided a program record for fewest points in a conference game and were held under 40 points for the first time since 2015.
Boise State, meanwhile, extended its own winning streak to nine games, with Natalie Pasco scoring 16 points and Libby Hutton adding 11. New Mexico’s defense was a bright spot, racking up 13 steals and holding Boise State nine points below its season average, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the offensive drought. Jessie Joaquim grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lobos, while Cacia Antonio contributed six points and six steals.
The Lobos now look to regroup with back-to-back home games against San José State on February 11 and Colorado State on Valentine’s Day. For both programs, the coming weeks will be crucial as the Mountain West race heats up and postseason dreams hang in the balance. The men’s team faces a pivotal stretch, while the women’s squad will try to rediscover their shooting touch and return to their winning ways.
As the dust settles on a dramatic Saturday, one thing’s for sure: in the Mountain West, nothing comes easy—and every game feels like a season unto itself.