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Posted: Wednesday March 13, 2002 12:15 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Minnesota hopes to end New Mexico's season with a fourth consecutive defeat when the teams meet for the first time in more than 28 years when the teams meet in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday.
New Mexico (16-13) won only four of its last 13 games, including a 120-117 double-overtime setback to Nevada Las Vegas in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The Lobos have not lost four straight games since January 29-February 10, 2001.
The Lobos have advanced to postseason play seven consecutive years, including the NIT the past three seasons. New Mexico made it to the second round in 2000 and the quarterfinals in 2001. The Lobos are 16-16 all time in the NIT and have advanced to the second round the last six times they have played in the tournament.
Minnesota (17-12) enters the tournament having lost two of its last three games, both to Illinois. The Illini defeated the Golden Gophers in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten conference tournament last Friday, 92-76. Minnesota never led and allowed Illinois to shoot 62 percent (28-of-45) in the loss.
The Gophers beat Villanova but lost to Tulsa in overtime in the 2001 NIT. They won the tournament in 1993 and 1998 but were foraced to vacate the latter title due to NCAA infractions.
Minnesota and New Mexico have only played once before, with the Lobos winning, 102-68, on December 29, 1973.
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