New Mexico Pads Its Record Again
New Mexico feasted on another cupcake Wednesday night.
The 17th-ranked Lobos (5-0), in the midst of a soft December schedule that has drawn criticism from their fans and politicians in the state, rolled to a 97-72 victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff at Albuquerque, N.M.
Leading scorer Lamont Long has been bothered because of a bad back and sat out against the Lions, who are 0-5 and whose first four losses were by an average of 32 points.
Freshman John Robinson III led the Lobos with 25 points.
New Mexico hasn’t been pressed since it edged DePaul, 82-81, in the season opener, but the Lobos’ schedule since then has included Cornell, Northeastern and Arkansas Pine Bluff, which was 4-23 last season. Next up: Texas Pan American, which was 3-24 last season, and Sacramento State, which was 1-25.
No. 23 Xavier 64, No. 22 Miami of Ohio 56--Gary Lumpkin made a clutch three-point basket as the Musketeers held off the RedHawks at Cincinnati.
Xavier (5-2) overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half with a balanced attack and gritty defense against Wally Szczerbiak, who finished with 24 points.
No. 25 St. John’s 70, Hofstra 49--Freshman Erick Barkley scored 25 points as the Red Storm (5-2) overwhelmed the Flying Dutchmen (2-4) at New York.
WOMEN
Sheila McMillen scored 23 points to as No. 6 Notre Dame cruised to an 82-64 victory over Toledo (3-3) at South Bend, Ind. . . . Rene Hanebutt scored 19 points to lead No. 14 Texas Tech (4-1) to a 96-39 rout of Texas San Antonio (1-4) at Lubbock, Texas. . . . Megan Gregg scored 21 points as Oklahoma State (5-0) defeated No. 20 Vanderbilt (3-2) at Stillwater, Okla. . . . Michele VanGorp and Krista Gingrich each scored 22 points to help No. 16 Duke (5-3) to a 91-72 victory over Florida State (2-3) at Durham, N.C., in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. . . . Itoro Umoh had 27 points and 10 assists to lead No. 25 Clemson (6-0) to an 88-67 rout of No. 17 North Carolina State (3-3) at Clemson, S.C., in the ACC opener for both teams.