Air Force Falcons host the New Mexico Lobos
Game: Air Force Falcons vs. New Mexico Lobos
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Time: 2:00 MT 4 EST
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Venue: Clune Arena
Radio: Lobo Sports Network, Rob Portnoy/Hunter Green
TV: Mountain West Network
THE SERIES: New Mexico leads 67-27
New Mexico Lobos (19-4, 11-1 MWC) vs. Air Force Falcons (3-20, 0-12 MWC)
Under head coach Richard Pitino, the Lobos have reached 11-1 in Mountain West play for the first time in program history.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
This marked their best conference start since opening 11-1 in the WAC during the 1997-98 season.
New Mexico (19-4, 11-1 MW) sits atop the Mountain West, aiming for its third consecutive 20-win season.
The Lobos have won five straight, including dominant victories over the conference’s second- and third-place teams—an 82-63 road win at Utah State last Saturday and an 87-65 home victory over Colorado State on Wednesday.
Nelly Junior Joseph, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week, has notched four consecutive double-doubles.
Air Force (3-20, 0-12 MW) is still seeking its first conference win but has been competitive at home, falling by five to Wyoming and losing on a buzzer-beater in overtime against San Diego State.
The Falcons are led by Ethan Taylor, who paces the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists while ranking fifth nationally in minutes played.
Air Force holds an 8-15-0 record against the spread (ATS) this season, while New Mexico sits at 12-10-0 ATS. When it comes to hitting the over, the Falcons are 15-8-0, with the Lobos at 11-11-0.
Recent trends heavily favor New Mexico—Air Force is just 2-8 ATS and winless (0-10) in its last 10 games, whereas the Lobos have gone 6-4 ATS and 9-1 overall in that span.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
David vs. Goliath: Air Force Falcons Look to Stun First-Place New Mexico Lobos
The Air Force Falcons (3-20, 0-12 MWC) will try to snap a tough 13-game losing streak when they host the Mountain West’s top team, the New Mexico Lobos (19-4, 11-1 MWC), on Saturday at 4:00 PM ET in Clune Arena.
The Mountain West Network will broadcast the game as the struggling Falcons attempt to pull off the season’s upset.
Can Air Force Flip the Script?
Photo Courtesy of Air Force Academy Basketball
It’s been a rough season for the Falcons, who sit winless in conference play and have lost 10 straight overall.
Their struggles have been clear both at home (2-10) and on the road, as they’ve battled turnovers (11.9 per game) and inconsistent shooting.
Air Force is 8-15 against the spread (ATS) this season and has covered in only two of its last 10 games.
One bright spot has been guard Taylor, who leads the Falcons with 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Alongside him, Luke Kearney has contributed 9.5 points per game while shooting 36.0% over the last 10 contests.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Lobos Looking to Keep Rolling
New Mexico has dominated the MWC, winning nine of its last 10 games and boasting an 11-1 conference record.
The Lobos have been an offensive powerhouse, averaging 80.1 points per game over that stretch while hitting 46.8% from the field.
Led by star guard Dent (19.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG) and double-double machine Nelly Junior Joseph (15.1 PPG, 11.5 RPG over the last 10 games), the Lobos rank among the top teams in the conference in assists (16.2 per game).
Against CSU, the Lobos caught fire from beyond the arc, shooting 9-of-14 (64.3%) from three—their best long-range shooting performance in eight years (66.7%, 6-of-9 at Colorado State in 2016-17).
Photo Courtesy of Air Force Academy Basketball
They also netted 52 second-half points for the second consecutive game, maintaining their offensive dominance.
Under head coach Richard Pitino, the Lobos excel at delivering explosive offensive runs, fueled not only by Dent and Junior Joseph but also by a deep bench that rises to the occasion with timely shot-making and confidence when it matters most.
During their recent streak, they’ve also been solid defensively, holding opponents to 67.5 points per game.
Tru Washington has been the lockdown defender on any ball handler, and Nelly Jr Joseph is a force in scoring and shot-blocking.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Key Matchup: Perimeter Shooting
Air Force’s 8.0 made three-pointers per game slightly edges out the 7.6 per game that New Mexico allows, which could be a critical factor if the Falcons hope to keep things close.
Photo Courtesy of Air Force Academy Basketball
However, the Lobos’ 46.5% shooting percentage suggests they will find plenty of scoring opportunities against an Air Force defense that has allowed opponents to shoot 47.6% this season.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Players to Watch
Air Force Falcons
- Ethan Taylor – The all-around leader for the Falcons, Taylor tops the team in points (15.6), rebounds (5.8), and assists (3.7) per game. He’s a sharpshooter, hitting 41.3% from three while averaging 3.4 made triples per game. Defensively, he contributes 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks.
- Kyle Marshall – A steady contributor, Marshall adds 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest.
- Wesley Celichowski – Offering additional scoring, Celichowski averages 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
New Mexico Lobos
- Donovan Dent – The Lobos’ offensive engine, Dent leads the team in scoring (19.3 PPG) and assists (6.5 APG) while shooting an efficient 49.8% from the field.
- Nelly Junior Joseph – A dominant force in the paint, Joseph averages a double-double with 13.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, ranking eighth in the nation in rebounding.
- Mustapha Amzil – A versatile scoring threat, Amzil contributes 12.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while knocking down 1.4 threes per contest at a 30.8% clip from deep.
- CJ Noland averages just 8.6 PPG but exploded for 19 points off the bench against CSU with a perfect 7-7 shooting (3-3 3FG) performance to lead the Lobos.
The Bottom Line
On paper, this is a complete mismatch. Air Force is struggling, while New Mexico aims to tighten its grip on the MWC’s top spot.
Still, anything can happen in college basketball, and the Falcons will strive to shock the conference with a statement win at home.
Will the Air Force defy the odds, or will the Lobos continue their dominance?
My Prediction: In the classic biblical story of David and Goliath, David defeats Goliath with a single stone from his shepherd’s pouch, even though he picked up five stones.
The Lobos have too many stones in this Richard Pitino pouch, so to speak; one of the best point guards in the country (Donovan Dent) and one of the best big men in the post (Nelly Jr. Joseph), plus a very deep bench. Look for the Lobos to roll over the Falcons 95-63
