RENO, Nev. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded Mountain West Conference clash defined by critical plays in the final minutes, the New Mexico Lobos avenged an earlier loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack with a 63-56 victory on Saturday at Lawlor Events Center.

The Lobos, improving to 21-9 overall, used a decisive 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from a Nevada team that had battled to keep the game within a single possession for much of the second half. The win, in front of 1,481 fans, was secured not by offensive fireworks but by defensive stops and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.

New Mexico guard Cacia Antonio, a junior from Luanda, Angola, led all scorers with 18 points, including two crucial free throws with 6:14 remaining that pushed the Lobos’ lead to five. Her backcourt mate, Joana Magalhães, added 11 points and three assists, while forward Destinee Hooks of Indianapolis contributed 13 points, a key block, and perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the line in the final quarter.

Nevada, which fell to 9-20, was led by Skylar Durley’s 16 points. Ahrray Young of Sacramento added 10 points and three assists for the Wolf Pack, who struggled mightily from beyond the arc, connecting on just one of 12 three-point attempts.

The game’s most pivotal sequence began with Nevada trailing 55-51 and possessing momentum after a Makayla Carter free throw. Following a New Mexico shot-clock violation, Nevada’s Carter committed a turnover, which was stolen by New Mexico’s Emma Najjuma. Although Hooks had her subsequent layup attempt blocked by Carter, the Lobos retained their composure.

On the ensuing possession, with the shot clock winding down, Antonio drove the lane and converted a difficult layup while being fouled with 2:42 left. She missed the free throw, but the basket gave New Mexico a 57-51 cushion and forced a Nevada timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Wolf Pack turned the ball over again, leading to two more free throws from Hooks that extended the lead to eight and effectively sealed the game.

The contest was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 10 in Albuquerque, where Nevada prevailed 70-61. This time, New Mexico’s defense set the tone, forcing 15 turnovers and holding Nevada to an offensive rating of 84.0 points per 100 possessions. The Lobos also dominated the glass on the offensive end, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds to Nevada’s six, leading to 13 second-chance points.

Neither team shot efficiently. New Mexico finished at 38.6% from the field and was just 4 of 19 from three-point range. Nevada shot 44.2% overall but its inability to score from distance or capitalize on opportunities in the final three minutes proved fatal. The Lobos’ advantage came at the free-throw line, where they made 15 of 16 attempts, including their final eight in the last 1:11 of the game.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Nevada took an early 18-16 lead after one quarter behind eight points from Young. New Mexico responded with a 9-2 spurt in the second quarter, capped by a Magalhães three-pointer, to take a 32-27 lead. Nevada closed the half on a 7-2 run, including a three-pointer from Britain Backus, to knot the score at 34-34 heading into the break.

The third quarter saw New Mexico begin to establish control, opening with a 10-4 run to take a 44-38 lead. The Lobos carried a 51-47 advantage into the final period, setting the stage for the tense finish.

New Mexico’s Najjuma, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Mukono Seeta, Uganda, provided a significant interior presence off the bench with six points and a game-high four offensive rebounds. For Nevada, Imbie Jones of Seattle scored eight points, and Amelia Raidaveta of Dubbo, Australia, blocked two shots.

The victory continues a strong late-season push for New Mexico, which has now won four of its last five games. The Lobos will conclude their regular season at home against Fresno State on Tuesday. Nevada, which has lost three of four, will finish its season on the road at Utah State, also on Tuesday.

The game was played under the statistical expectation that New Mexico held an 80.7% probability to win, according to Interstat’s ELO system, a forecast the Lobos ultimately fulfilled through determined defense and timely execution in the game’s decisive moments.