ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the New Mexico Lobos pulled away from the Saint Joseph’s Hawks for an 84-69 victory in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Tuesday night at The Pit.

A crowd of 8,054 saw the Lobos, fueled by a dominant performance from forward Tomislav Buljan and a relentless attack on the free-throw line, improve to 26-10 this season. Saint Joseph’s fell to 24-12.

The most important part of the game unfolded after halftime. The Hawks, behind a sharp-shooting first half from guard Derek Simpson, took a narrow 39-37 lead into the break. Simpson scored 17 of his game-high 26 points before intermission, helping Saint Joseph’s weather an early burst from Buljan.

The momentum shifted irrevocably in the opening minutes of the second half. New Mexico opened with a 10-2 run, seizing a lead it would not relinquish. The Lobos’ offense, which had an efficient offensive rating of 113.1, found consistent success inside and capitalized on Saint Joseph’s foul trouble. New Mexico attempted 28 free throws, making 22, while the Hawks went just 8 for 11 from the line.

Buljan, a 6-foot-9 junior from Split, Croatia, was the catalyst. He finished with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting, adding nine rebounds. He set the tone early, scoring New Mexico’s first four points and 11 in the first half, and continued to punish the Hawks in the paint after the break. His performance continued a strong stretch, following a 25-point outing against San Jose State last week.

He was complemented by guard Jake Hall, who added 24 points, and forward Luke Haupt, who chipped in 10 points and five assists. The Lobos shot 47.5% from the field and outscored Saint Joseph’s 47-30 in the second half.

Simpson, a junior from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, led all scorers with 26 points and four assists for Saint Joseph’s. Dasear Haskins added 14 points. The Hawks struggled offensively overall, shooting 40% from the field and just 27.3% from 3-point range. Their offensive rating of 95.5 paled in comparison to New Mexico’s efficiency.

Saint Joseph’s stayed close for much of the first half, answering nearly every New Mexico basket. The Hawks led by as many as four points late in the period after a Simpson 3-pointer. But the Lobos’ defensive adjustments and superior depth wore down the visitors after halftime, steadily expanding a single-digit lead into a comfortable margin.

New Mexico, which entered the game as an 11-point favorite according to sportsbooks, covered the spread. The total score of 153 points went under the betting over/under line of 149. The Lobos’ victory was in line with statistical projections, which gave them a 77% probability to win.

The game was a contrast in styles. Saint Joseph’s relied heavily on perimeter creation from Simpson, while New Mexico leveraged its size and physicality, outscoring the Hawks 38-26 in the paint and controlling the glass with a 41-34 rebounding edge.

With the win, New Mexico continues a positive run of form, having won four of its last five games. Saint Joseph’s sees a two-game winning streak snapped as it heads into the offseason.