ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—New Mexico’s Roman Martinez scored a game-high 18 points Saturday to lead the Lobos to a 67-51 victory over UC Riverside in the season-opener for both teams.
The Highlanders (0-1) got 11 points from Sean Cunningham, but they shot just 32.7 percent from the field.
Junior-college transfer Darington Hobson contributed 16 points and seven rebounds in his first game with UNM (1-0) and A.J. Hardeman had 14 points and six boards in his first Lobos’ start.
New Mexico took control of the game early, using a 23-6 run over eight minutes of the first quarter to break an 8-8 tie and open a lead it never gave up.
The Lobos hit all five of their 3-point attempts in the surge, from four different players. UNM finished 8-for-22 on threes to just 3-11 for Riverside.
