Santa Clara Beats New Mexico 90-85 After Lobos' Comeback Attempt

The New Mexico men’s basketball team nearly secured the largest comeback in program history on Saturday night, falling just short in a 90-85 loss to Santa Clara at the Leavey Center.

Trailing by as many as 23 points early in the second half, the Lobos (3-1) mounted a furious rally to take a lead in the final minute of play. However, the Broncos (5-0), a preseason favorite in the West Coast Conference, reclaimed the advantage and maintained their undefeated start to the season, New Mexico Lobos – Official Athletics Website reported.

The defeat marks a difficult trend for the program, as the Lobos have now dropped their road opener for the fourth season. Had New Mexico secured the win, they would have surpassed their own record for a comeback, which was set last season during a 22-point rally against Fresno State.

“We didn’t do what we needed to do against a good team on the road, but I love this team and I love our fight. It’s a missed opportunity,” said Eric Olen, New Mexico head coach.

Santa Clara surges during first half

New Mexico initially found success, holding a 6-5 lead after the first four minutes of the game behind scoring from Hudson Mayes. That momentum shifted quickly when Santa Clara utilized an 11-0 run to take a 16-6 lead with 13:30 remaining in the first half.

UNM Lobos coach Eric Olen and guard Hudson Mayers after loss at Santa Clara (Nov. 14, 2026) — Albuquerque Journal

The Broncos’ perimeter shooting proved to be a deciding factor. Santa Clara opened the half by hitting seven of nine three-pointers, eventually pushing their lead to 44-27 with just 2:40 left in the period. They entered the halftime break with a 51-33 advantage.

The second half began with another Santa Clara surge, extending the lead to 56-33. New Mexico responded with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 56-44 with 15:30 left, eventually tying the game at 79-79 with 2:25 to play.

The final minutes were a sequence of rapid lead changes. After Mayes made a free throw to give the Lobos an 80-79 lead, Uriah Tenette scored on a fast break to put New Mexico ahead again. Santa Clara responded with a three-pointer to lead 85-83 with under a minute remaining, before sealing the 90-85 victory at the free-throw line in the closing seconds.

Individual performances and statistical outliers

Despite the loss, several Lobos delivered standout performances that suggest the team’s depth could be a factor as the season progresses. Hudson Mayes led the way with a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds, marking his first double-double of the season.

Jake Hall contributed 19 points, while Fynn Lastring recorded 13 points off the bench, marking his first career game with double-digit scoring. However, the Lobos struggled significantly from beyond the arc, with Hall and Tenette combining for 8-for-32 from the field and a collective 0-for-18 from three-point range.

The Broncos' offense showed its effectiveness through their volume of long-range shooting. Santa Clara made 17 three-pointers, a total that ties for the second-highest number ever recorded by a New Mexico opponent.

Lobos Player	Points	Rebounds
Hudson Mayes	24	12
Jake Hall	19	—
Fynn Lastring	13	—

The road ahead for New Mexico

The Lobos face a challenging schedule as they attempt to recover from this narrow defeat. The team will have a week of rest before heading back on the road to face another preseason conference favorite on Saturday, Nov. 22.

“For us, to see Jake and Uriah combine for 8-for-32 and 0-of-18 from three and we have a chance to win, that’s huge. Hudson was unbelievable and Tunde and Fynn hit some big shots. We have depth, toughness and smart guys and we are going to get better from this,” Olen told New Mexico Lobos – Official Athletics Website.

Following the matchup against Wichita State on Nov. 21, New Mexico will return home to begin a five-game homestand, starting Nov. 25 against Mississippi Valley State.

The Lobos’ ability to close massive deficits suggests a high ceiling for this roster, but their reliance on perimeter shooting remains a vulnerability that must be addressed before their upcoming conference slate.