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New Mexico coach Paul Weir gestures during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Fresno State in the first round of the Mountain West Conference men’s tournament Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. Paul Weir never did don that Cherry blazer.
Four seasons after the young, hotshot coach plucked away from rival New Mexico State was introduced as the new head coach of University of New Mexico men’s basketball at an unconventional press conference during which he quoted a Greek philosopher and bucked the program tradition of wearing a cherry blazer until he felt he earned it Weir walked alone off the Thomas & Mack Center court on Wednesday for the final time as the Lobos’ coach.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. The 11th-seed University of New Mexico men’s basketball team nearly upset sixth-seed Fresno State on Wednesday night in the first round of the 2021 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Tournament. The Lobos racked up a season-most 12 threes but ultimately fell 85-77 in head coach Paul Weir’s final contest at the helm of the Lobos.
New Mexico (6-16) was led by sophomore Jeremiah Francis III who posted a career-high 19 points, connecting on 6-of-8 from the floor while going a perfect 4-for-4 from deep. Francis III struggled from the floor for much of the season but found his footing when it counted in his final game of his inaugural season as a Lobo.
Stroud, Fresno St. beat New Mexico 85-77 in MWC tourney
March 11, 2021 GMT
The Bulldogs play third-seeded Colorado State in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Isaiah Hill added 17 points for Fresno State, while Anthony Holland chipped in 15. Holland also had 10 rebounds and six assists. Hill had seven turnovers but only five assists.
Orlando Robinson had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Fresno State (12-11). He also committed seven turnovers.
Fresno State totaled 51 points in the second half, a season high for the team.
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Jeremiah Francis III had 19 points for the No. 11 seed Lobos (6-16). Makuach Maluach added 16 points. Isaiah Marin had 13 points.
AP NEWS
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Tuesday’s 1:05 p.m. Southwest Airlines flight 3781 carrying the New Mexico men’s basketball team to Las Vegas, Nevada, was full.
The passengers were elbow to elbow, masks on.
Most of the players boarded last and tried to squeeze their much taller-than-average legs into the middle row of the crowded commercial flight. They were headed to the 2020-21 Mountain West tournament.
The No. 11 seed Lobos (6-15, 2-15 Mountain West) will take on No. 6 Fresno State (11-11, 9-11 MWC) at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Thomas & Mack Center.
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UNM has not held a media session to talk about the team’s thoughts on a hopeful last run in departing head coach Paul Weir’s final stretch.