2025–26 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team
American college basketball season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2025–26 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represented the University of New Mexico during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Lobos, led by first-year head coach Eric Olen, played their home games at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a member of the Mountain West Conference.
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Record26–11 (13–7 MW)
Headcoach
- Eric Olen (1st season)
Assistant coaches
- Mikey Howell (1st season)
- Mike Roberts (1st season)
- Sam Stapleton (1st season)
- Tom Tankelewicz (1st season)
- Michael Wilder (1st season)
| 2025–26 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball | |
|---|---|
 | |
NIT, Semifinal | |
| Conference | Mountain West Conference |
| Record | 26–11 (13–7 MW) |
| Head coach |
|
| Assistant coaches |
|
| Home arena | The Pit (Capacity: 15,411) |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah State † | 15 | – | 5 | .750 | 29 | – | 7 | .806 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego State | 14 | – | 6 | .700 | 22 | – | 11 | .667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | 13 | – | 7 | .650 | 26 | – | 11 | .703 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Canyon | 13 | – | 7 | .650 | 20 | – | 12 | .625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada | 12 | – | 8 | .600 | 24 | – | 13 | .649 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boise State | 12 | – | 8 | .600 | 20 | – | 12 | .625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado State | 11 | – | 9 | .550 | 21 | – | 13 | .618 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UNLV | 11 | – | 9 | .550 | 18 | – | 17 | .514 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 9 | – | 11 | .450 | 18 | – | 15 | .545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno State | 7 | – | 13 | .350 | 13 | – | 19 | .406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Jose State | 3 | – | 17 | .150 | 9 | – | 24 | .273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Force | 0 | – | 20 | .000 | 3 | – | 29 | .094 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| † 2026 Mountain West tournament winner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Previous season
The Lobos finished the 2024-25 season 27–8, 17–3 in Mountain West play to finish in first place in the conference standings for the first time since 2013. As the 1-seed in the Mountain West Tournament they would defeat 8-seed San Jose State in the Quarterfinals before falling in the Semifinals to 5-seed Boise State.[1] They still however received an at-large bit to the NCAA Tournament and were placed as the 10-seed in the South region. The Lobos defeated 7-seed Marquette in the First Round, but fell in the Second Round to 2-seed #8 Michigan State to end their season.[2][3] Following the season on March 25, head coach Richard Pitino was hired to replace Sean Miller as the head coach at Xavier.[4][5]
Offseason
Departures
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Noland | 0 | G | 6'4" | 220 | Graduate | Waxahachie, TX | Out of eligibility |
| Braden Applehans | 1 | G | 6'7" | 195 |  Sophomore | Blue Springs, MO | Transferred to Drake |
| Donovan Dent | 2 | G | 6'2" | 185 | Junior | Riverside, CA | Transferred to UCLA |
| Tru Washington | 3 | G | 6'4" | 195 | Sophomore | Phoenix, AZ | Transferred to Miami (FL) |
| Kayde Dotson | 4 | F | 6'2" | 180 | Freshman | Beaumont, TX | Transferred to Loyola Chicago |
| Atiki Ally Atiki | 6 | F | 6'10" | 210 | Senior | Mwanza, Tanzania | Out of eligibility |
| Ibrahima Sacko | 7 | F | 6'6" | 240 | Sophomore | Conakry, Guinea | Transferred to New Mexico State |
| Filip Borovićanin | 8 | F | 6'9" | 220 | Junior | Belgrade, Serbia | Transferred to Xavier |
| Quinton Webb | 11 | G | 6'6" | 200 | Sophomore | San Bernardino, CA | Transferred to Cal State Northridge |
| Daniel Thomas | 13 | F | 6'8" | 215 | Freshman | Dallas, TX | Transferred to UNC Asheville |
| Deraje Agbaosi | 21 | F | 6'7" | 215 | Junior | Union Township, NJ | Transferred to Cal State LA |
| Mustapha Amzil | 22 | F | 6'9" | 215 | Senior | Helsinki, Finland | Signed with KB Trepça |
| Nelly Junior Joseph | 23 | C | 6'10" | 245 | Senior | Benin City, Nigeria | Signed with SIG Strasbourg |
| Jovan Milicevic | 24 | F | 6'10" | 260 | Freshman | Toronto, ON, Canada | Transferred to Xavier |
| Shane Douma-Sanchez | 32 | G | 6'1" | 175 | Freshman | Laguna, NM | Transferred to Lower Columbia |
| Dylan Chavez | 35 | G | 6'5" | 185 | Freshman | Albuquerque, NM | Entered transfer portal |
Incoming transfers
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous college |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Patton Jr. | 0 | G | 6'8" | 200 | Junior | Murrieta, CA | USC |
| Deyton Albury | 1 | G | 6'3" | 190 | Senior | Nassau, Bahamas | Utah State |
| Tajavis Miller | 2 | F | 6'4" | 200 | Senior | Lubbock, TX | North Dakota State |
| Luke Haupt | 3 | G | 6'7" | 215 | Senior | San Diego, CA | Point Loma |
| Antonio Chol | 5 | F | 6'9" | 215 | Junior | Buffalo, NY | Garden City CC |
| Chris Howell | 8 | G | 6'6" | 215 | Senior | San Diego, CA | UC San Diego |
| Kallai Patton | 11 | C | 6'4" | 180 | Freshman | Murrieta, CA | USC |
| Milos Vicentic | 31 | F | 6'7" | 210 | Graduate | Belgrade, Serbia | UC San Diego |
| JT Rock | 35 | C | 7'1" | 255 | Sophomore | Sioux Falls, SD | Iowa State |
Roster
| 2025–26 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule and results
| Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibition | |||||||||||
| October 25, 2025* 7:00 p.m. |
at Washington State | L 66–74 | 11 – Tied | 9 – Buljan | 4 – Howell | Beasley Coliseum (670) Pullman, WA | |||||
| October 30, 2025* 7:00 p.m. |
Northern Arizona | W 64–54 | 20 – Chol | 7 – Buljan | 5 – Howell | The Pit (9,728) Albuquerque, NM | |||||
| Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
| November 5, 2025* 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
East Texas A&M | W 76–54 | 1–0 |
14 – Tied | 15 – Buljan | 5 – Tenette | The Pit (10,276) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| November 8, 2025* 2:00 p.m., MW Network |
UT Arlington | W 74–56 | 2–0 |
17 – Buljan | 6 – Haupt | 5 – Howell | The Pit (11,513) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| November 11, 2025* 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
UC Riverside | W 82–68 | 3–0 |
15 – Howell | 11 – Buljan | 5 – Howell | The Pit (11,689) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| November 15, 2025* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at New Mexico State Rio Grande Rivalry |
L 68–76 | 3–1 |
18 – Albury | 13 – Buljan | 3 – Howell | Pan American Center (8,106) Las Cruces, NM | ||||
| November 20, 2025* 5:00 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN |
vs. Nebraska Hall of Fame Classic semifinals |
L 72–84 | 3–2 |
20 – Hall | 7 – Tied | 6 – Howell | T-Mobile Center (5,278) Kansas City, MO | ||||
| November 21, 2025* 5:00 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN |
vs. Mississippi State Hall of Fame Classic 3rd place game |
W 80–78 | 4–2 |
19 – Buljan | 21 – Buljan | 3 – Tied | T-Mobile Center Kansas City, MO | ||||
| November 26, 2025* 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
Alabama State | W 93–87 | 5–2 |
24 – Hall | 7 – Buljan | 5 – Tied | The Pit (12,027) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| December 1, 2025* 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
New Mexico Highlands | W 97–47 | 6–2 |
21 – Hall | 9 – Rock | 6 – Tied | The Pit (10,164) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| December 6, 2025* 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
Santa Clara | W 98–71 | 7–2 |
22 – Albury | 10 – Buljan | 6 – Albury | The Pit (13,614) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| December 10, 2025* 5:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at VCU | W 81–78 | 8–2 |
24 – Hall | 7 – Haupt | 2 – Tied | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA | ||||
| December 14, 2025* 2:00 p.m., MW Network |
Florida Gulf Coast | W 75–59 | 9–2 |
14 – Chol | 7 – Tied | 6 – Haupt | The Pit (12,204) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| Mountain West regular season | |||||||||||
| December 20, 2025 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
San Jose State | W 88–65 | 10–2 (1–0) |
19 – Vicentic | 5 – Tied | 7 – Albury | The Pit (12,785) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| December 30, 2025 9:00 p.m., FS1 |
at Boise State | L 53–62 | 10–3 (1–1) |
16 – Buljan | 10 – Buljan | 2 – Albury | ExtraMile Arena (9,980) Boise, ID | ||||
| January 3, 2026 6:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Wyoming | W 78–58 | 11–3 (2–1) |
25 – Buljan | 10 – Buljan | 7 – Albury | The Pit (13,763) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| January 6, 2026 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
at Colorado State | W 80–70 | 12–3 (3–1) |
18 – Hall | 11 – Buljan | 4 – Tied | Moby Arena (3,640) Fort Collins, CO | ||||
| January 10, 2026 1:00 p.m., MW Network |
at Air Force | W 91–49 | 13–3 (4–1) |
24 – Hall | 14 – Buljan | 5 – Haupt | Clune Arena (2,017) Colorado Springs, CO | ||||
| January 13, 2026 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
Grand Canyon | W 87–64 | 14–3 (5–1) |
22 – Hall | 7 – Haupt | 4 – Albury | The Pit (12,512) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| January 17, 2026 6:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at San Diego State | L 78–82 | 14–4 (5–2) |
20 – Buljan | 14 – Buljan | 5 – Hall | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA | ||||
| January 21, 2026 7:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Fresno State | W 83–74 | 15–4 (6–2) |
16 – Hall | 10 – Buljan | 6 – Haupt | The Pit (11,924) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| January 24, 2026 6:00 p.m., FS1 |
Nevada | W 80–73 | 16–4 (7–2) |
19 – Hall | 19 – Buljian | 5 – Tenette | The Pit (14,639) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| January 27, 2026 9:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at UNLV | W 89–61 | 17–4 (8–2) |
18 – Buljan | 11 – Buljan | 6 – Haupt | Thomas & Mack Center (5,642) Paradise, NV | ||||
| January 31, 2026 8:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at San Jose State | W 90–80 | 18–4 (9–2) |
27 – Hall | 10 – Buljan | 5 – Albury | Provident Credit Union Event Center (4,189) San Jose, CA | ||||
| February 4, 2026 9:00 p.m., FS1 |
Utah State | L 68–88 | 18–5 (9–3) |
17 – Buljan | 7 – Tied | 3 – Tenette | The Pit (14,419) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| February 7, 2026 8:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Boise State | L 90–91 | 18–6 (9–4) |
30 – Haupt | 9 – Buljan | 5 – Tenette | The Pit (14,379) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| February 11, 2026 8:00 p.m., FS1 |
at Grand Canyon | W 70–64 | 19–6 (10–4) |
23 – Hall | 9 – Buljan | 3 – Haupt | Global Credit Union Arena (6,988) Phoenix, AZ | ||||
| February 17, 2026 7:00 p.m., MW Network |
Air Force | W 98–61 | 20–6 (11–4) |
20 – Chol | 10 – Buljan | 6 – Albury | The Pit (12,291) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| February 21, 2026 6:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at Fresno State | W 80–78 | 21–6 (12–4) |
21 – Albury | 8 – Albury | 2 – Buljan | Save Mart Center (5,402) Fresno, CA | ||||
| February 24, 2026 9:00 p.m., CBSSN |
at Nevada | L 60−67 | 21−7 (12−5) |
17 – Hall | 12 – Buljan | 3 – Tied | Lawlor Events Center (8,020) Reno, NV | ||||
| February 28, 2026 12:00 p.m., CBS |
San Diego State | W 81–76 | 22–7 (13–5) |
24 – Buljan | 18 – Buljan | 5 – Tenette | The Pit (15,411) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| March 4, 2026 8:00 p.m., CBSSN |
Colorado State | L 74–82 | 22–8 (13–6) |
22 – Albury | 12 – Buljan | 3 – Tied | The Pit (14,051) Albuquerque, NM | ||||
| March 7, 2026 2:00 p.m., MW Network |
at Utah State | L 90–94 | 22–9 (13–7) |
32 – Hall | 13 – Buljan | 7 – Tenette | Smith Spectrum (10,270) Logan, UT | ||||
| Mountain West tournament | |||||||||||
| March 12, 2026 9:30 p.m., CBSSN |
(3) | vs. (11) San Jose State Quarterfinal |
W 93–77 | 23–9 |
25 – Buljan | 14 – Buljan | 9 – Tenette | Thomas & Mack Center (6,236) Paradise, NV | |||
| March 13, 2026 10:00 p.m., CBSSN |
(3) | vs. (2) San Diego State Semifinal |
L 62–64 | 23–10 |
20 – Albury | 10 – Buljan | 4 – Tied | Thomas & Mack Center (9,048) Paradise, NV | |||
| NIT | |||||||||||
| March 18, 2026 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
(1 AL) | Sam Houston First round |
W 107–83 | 24–10 |
22 – Buljan | 10 – Buljan | 6 – Tied | The Pit (7,286) Albuquerque, NM | |||
| March 22, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
(1 AL) | George Washington Second round |
W 86–61 | 25–10 |
19 – Hall | 9 – Buljan | 6 – Tied | The Pit (9,207) Albuquerque, NM | |||
| March 24, 2026 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 |
(1 AL) | Saint Joseph's Quarterfinal |
W 84–69 | 26–10 |
27 – Buljan | 11 – Buljan | 5 – Haupt | The Pit (8,054) Albuquerque, NM | |||
| April 2, 2026 5:00 p.m., ESPN |
(1 AL) | vs. (1 T) Tulsa Semifinal |
L 69–74 | 26–11 |
18 – Hall | 7 – Tied | 4 – Tenette | Hinkle Fieldhouse (4,625) Indianapolis, IN | |||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. AL=Albuquerque. T=Tulsa. All times are in Mountain Time. | |||||||||||
Source[6]