Lobos defeat Utah in overtime, keep MWC lead to themselves
SALT LAKE CITY -- Roman Martinez scored 15 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer late in overtime to put No. 15 New Mexico ahead for good in a 68-65 victory over Utah on Saturday.
Dairese Gary scored 19 points and Darington Hobson finished with 11 assists, 10 rebounds and eight points for the Lobos (23-3, 9-2 Mountain West), who have won nine straight games.
New Mexico led most of the game but couldn't put away the Utes (11-13, 4-6) until overtime. It was only the Lobos' second win in their last 21 visits to Utah.
Marshall Henderson scored 21 and Carlon Brown 18 for Utah, including a 3-pointer to tie the score at 60 with two seconds left in regulation.
The victory keeps New Mexico alone in first place in the Mountain West, but the Lobos nearly left in a tie with Brigham Young after shooting 10-for-28 in the second half and missing six of 13 foul shots. The poor shooting allowed Utah to stay close and force overtime.
A.J. Hardeman had a chance to seal the victory for Lobos in regulation, but went 1-for-2 from the line to give New Mexico a 60-57 lead with 9.5 seconds left. After a timeout, the Utes got the ball to Brown in the corner, and his 3-pointer tied the score.
• No. 17 Brigham Young 91, Air Force 48 -- At Provo, Utah, senior forward Jonathan Tavernari scored a season-high 19 points off the bench, and Jackson Emery added 18 to carry the Cougars (23-3, 8-2) past the Falcons (9-15, 1-10).
Tavernari made five consecutive 3-point attempts and had 17 points during a decisive 28-5 spurt in the first half.
BYU shot 56 percent and made 12 of 20 3-pointers in the team's first game since losing to UNLV on Feb. 6.
Reserve Mike Fitzgerald scored 13 points to lead Air Force.
• Texas Christian 76, Wyoming 68 -- At Laramie, Wyo., Nikola Cerina scored 21 points, leading the Horned Frogs (12-14, 4-7) over the Cowboys (9-16, 2-9).
TCU used a 14-2 run to take a halftime lead and did not trail again, though Wyoming pulled to within 65-64 late.
Desmar Jackson scored 22 for the Cowboys, who have lost five in a row.
