|
Senior J.R. Giddens led New Mexico to a pair of overtime victories on the road last week. New Mexico edged UTEP 86-85 then opened the conference season with a 99-92 double-overtime victory at Wyoming. Down 48-32 at halftime, UNM staged its largest second-half comeback in a road game in school history. The win also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Cowboys in Laramie.
Giddens two-game stats were 36 points (10-30 FGs, 2-9 3s, 14-17 FTs), 27 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in 80 minutes of action.
At UTEP, Giddens scored 20 points in 43 minutes, and set career-highs with 19 rebounds and 7 assists. The 19 rebounds are the most in the MWC this season and the highest total by a Lobo since Lewis LaMar had 22 against Fresno State on Feb. 26, 1994. It was Giddens' second straight double-double, fourth of the season and seventh of his career.
At Wyoming, Giddens finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and a pair of blocks. After making his first shot of the game, Giddens did not hit a basket for more than 37 minutes, missing his next eight attempts over that span. However, he tied the score at 71-all with a 3-pointer with 1:19 left in regulation, then gave the Lobos a 73-71 lead with a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining. That was UNNM's first lead since 11-10. In overtime, Giddens scored six points, including an acrobatic follow slam with 33 seconds left in the first overtime that gave UNM an 82-81 advantage. Giddens scored 11 points in the final 1:19 of the regulation and in the two overtimes before fouling out wth 1:40 remaining in the second overtime.
|
