The Denver Pioneers and the New Mexico Lobos meet in college basketball action from the DreamStyle Arena on Thursday night.
The Denver Pioneers come into this game looking to snap a four-game losing skid after a 71-58 loss to Texas State in their last matchup. KJ Hunt leads the Pioneers in scoring and assists with 16.2 PPG and 3.6 APG while also logging 4.3 RPG. Michael Henn has 11.3 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Jordan Johnson’s got 11 PPG to make up the group of double-digit scorers for Denver so far this season. Payton Moore joins Hunt as Denver’s top rebounders with 4.3 RPG of his own on the year. As a team, Denver is averaging 66.2 PPG on 45% shooting from the field, 35.2% from three and 67% from the foul line while allowing 68.3 PPG on 44.6% shooting from the field and 30.7% from three this season.
The New Mexico Lobos will try to shake off a 78-76 OT loss to New Mexico State last time out. Jamal Mashburn Jr. leads the Lobos in scoring with 21 PPG while Jaelen House has 18.8 PPG with a team-high 4.3 APG as the only other double-digit scorer for New Mexico up to this point in the season. Javonte Johnson has 9.2 PPG with a team-high 5.7 RPG and Gethro Muscadin has 9.1 PPG and 5 RPG as well this season. As a team, New Mexico is averaging 82 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the field, 37.8% from three and 74.6% from the foul line while allowing 79.1 PPG on 45.8% shooting from three and 33.9% from the foul line this season.
Denver is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road game sand 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road underdog. New Mexico is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall and 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 home games while the over is 8-2 in their last 10 games overall.
I get the case that could be made both ways here as Denver’s been a cover machine but New Mexico’s been winning and covering especially at home. With that said, I’m just leaning towards New Mexico here as Denver historically hasn’t been a high-scoring team and the Lobos have been go go go all year long. I think this is Lobos from start to finish so give me New Mexico in this one.