2024 Mountain West Tournament: New Mexico vs. Air Force Preview, Predictions, Livestream
Lobos are in a must win to try to get into the Big Dance
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Can Air Force pull away a victory away from home?
The New Mexico Lobos (22-9, 10-8 MWC) and the Air Force Falcons (9-21, 2-16 MWC) will play Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The No. 6 seed New Mexico Lobos are favored by 14.5 points in the MWC Tournament over the No. 11 seed Air Force Falcons (9-21, 2-16 MWC).
The teams will hit the court Wednesday at 7:00 PM ET live on MW Network, with the winner moving closer to a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket.
According to most oddsmakers, this should be a one-sided matchup. Heavily favored New Mexico is projected to win 82- 64. Tipoff is at 7:00 pm ET on March 13.
The Lobos were also heavily favored the last time these two teams played as the Falcons went to Albuquerque and pulled the upset the last time these two teams played as the Falcons defeated pulled the upset 78-77 on February 24.
You can bet the Lobos have not forgotten this stinging defeat when they were 18-point favorites and lost the game. They are also looking to redeem themselves.
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New Mexico’s Lobo record against the spread so far this season is 18-11-0, while the Air Force’s Falcons is 8-20-0.
Regarding hitting the over, games involving the Lobos are 16-13-0, and the Falcons are 18-10-0.
Over the last ten contests, New Mexico has a 4-6 record against the spread while going 4-6 overall. Air Force has gone 3-7 against the spread and 1-9 overall in its last ten matches.
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: MW Network
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center
Prepare for an exhilarating start to the 2024 Mountain West Tournament as the New Mexico men’s basketball squad gears up to take on Air Force in a thrilling first-round showdown.
Set to light up the Thomas & Mack Center, the sixth-seeded Lobos will lock horns with the 11th-seeded Falcons, igniting the court with their fiery rivalry.
With a 22-9 record this season, including a solid 10-8 standing in the Mountain West, the Lobos are poised for a lights-out game on a neutral court in Las Vegas.
The New Mexico Lobos have a solid record played at the PIT West, Las Vegas when they were playing for both something to prove and getting off the bubble in the NCAA tournament selection process.
If one looks at Lobo teams of the past, the Lobos have risen to the occasion with a very large Lobo fan attendance.
Players have generally stepped on, and I don’t expect this team to be different.
The Lobos have too much to lose and so much more to gain in the matchup. Look for the Lobos to come out and make a statement that the loss in the PIT to the Falcons was a fluke and that they want to make the big Dance, the NCAA Tournament.
Boasting a trio of standout players recognized in the All-Mountain West lineup – Donovan Dent and JT Toppin securing spots on the second team, while Jaelen House shines on the third – New Mexico brings a formidable lineup to the hardwood.
Toppin’s stellar performance earns him the title of Co-Freshman of the Year, while Mustapha Amzil’s contribution as Co-Sixth Man of the Year adds further depth to the Lobos’ arsenal.
On the opposing end, the Air Force Falcons, led by the dynamic Rytis Petraitis, have a 9-21 overall record and a 2-16 mark in the Mountain West.
Averaging an impressive 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Petraitis spearheads the Falcons’ charge into battle.
Rytis Petraitis stands as the standout player for Air Force, a formidable 6’7 sophomore forward who leads the team across all major categories. He epitomizes excellence on the court, averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game.
After an impressive performance against Colorado State, where he notched 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals, Petraitis continues to demonstrate his exceptional talent. Joining him in the fray is the 6’7 junior forward Beau Becker, contributing with 14.0 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Additionally, the team boasts sharpshooter Ethan Taylor, a 6’5 junior guard who leads in made threes with an impressive tally of 83 on the season, while also averaging 13.8 points and 4.1 assists per game.
Despite their prowess, Air Force finds itself ranked 259th overall by KenPom, with a 174th ranking in offensive efficiency and a 323rd ranking in defensive efficiency.
Notably, they adopt a deliberate pace, ranking 359th in tempo out of 362 Division I teams, and will try to slow the game down against the up-tempo Lobos.
With their eyes set on the NCAA Tournament, the Air Force understands that their path lies in securing victory in the conference tournament.