UNM MEN’S BASKETBALL Lobos barely survive opener

Cal State-Northridge proves surprisingly tough opponent

The results are in and the big projection from election night is this: The Lobo basketball team has some work to do.

The University of New Mexico went on the road Tuesday night to start its season and survived a surprisingly tight game against Cal State-Northridge, winning 87-84 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Anthony Mathis.

Taking an inbounds pass at the far end with 6 seconds left, Mathis dribbled down the right sideline and nailed a banked shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. It capped a wild night in which the Lobos (1-0) trailed by as many as seven points, led by as many as eight, were dominated on the offensive glass and then held on at the end.

“It comes down to the guy missed it so bad he made it,” said CSUN head coach Mark Gottfried. “It’s just a heartbreaker.”

Four Lobos finished in double figures, led by Corey Manigault’s 16 points. Dane Kuiper and Makuach Maluach each had 15 while Mathis had 12, all of them coming on 3-pointers.

It probably wasn’t the lopsided road win Lobos fans were expecting, but UNM head coach Paul Weir wasn’t complaining. With his team plagued by foul trouble, one of his point guards (freshman Drue Drinnon) out with an injury and star center Carlton Bragg sitting out as he awaits word from the NCAA over his eligibility, Weir was happy with what he saw.

“Quite honestly, as frustrated or disappointed as I may have been in certain elements of the game, I really can’t ask for anything more,” he said on his postgame radio show on KKOB-AM. “It’s the best lesson you can teach. Roy Williams says that all the time; you know, a close win is the best way to teach and this is going to be an amazing, teachable moment for us to continue to grow from here.”

Ten different players got time on the court, including walk-on Jordan Arroyo. The freshman from Albuquerque played eight minutes, giving some muchneeded relief to a lineup that saw star