# 2023–24 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team

The 2023–24 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represented the University of New Mexico during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Lobos, led by third-year head coach Richard Pitino, are members of the Mountain West Conference. They played their home games at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team drew an average home attendance of 13,042 in 16 games in 2023-24.

## Previous season

The Lobos would finish 22–12, 8–10 in Mountain West play to finish in 6th place. They would win against the 11th seeded Wyoming Cowboys before losing to the 3rd seeded Utah State Aggies in the Mountain West tournament. They would make it into the 2023 National Invitation Tournament, capturing the 2nd seed in the Rutgers bracket, but would go on to lose to Utah Valley, 83–69 at The Pit.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| KJ Jenkins | 0 | G | 6'2" | 175 | Senior | Atlanta, GA | Transferred to UNC Wilmington |
| Emmanuel Kuac | 4 | G | 6'7" | 200 | Sophomore | Calgary, AB | Transferred to Detroit Mercy |
| Jay Allen-Tovar | 12 | F | 6'9" | 217 | Senior | San Jose, CA | Transferred to Langston |
| Javonte Johnson | 13 | G | 6'6" | 190 | RS Junior | Colorado Springs, CO | Transferred to Colorado State |
| Safi Fino-A-Laself | 23 | G | 5'11" | 165 | Senior | Las Cruces, NM | Graduated |
| Morris Udeze | 24 | F | 6'8" | 245 | Senior | Houston, TX | Graduated; went undrafted in 2023 NBA draft |
| Birima Seck | 34 | F | 6'11" | 200 | Sophomore | Dakar, Senegal | Transferred to Fairfield |
| Josiah Allick | 53 | F | 6'8" | 240 | Senior | Lincoln, NE | Transferred to Nebraska |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| Jemarl Baker Jr. | 0 | G | 6'4" | 195 | GS Senior | Los Angeles, CA | Fresno State |
| Isaac Mushila | 12 | F | 6'5" | 210 | GS Senior | Lubumbashi, Congo | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi |
| Mustapha Amzil | 22 | F | 6'9" | 215 | Senior | Washington, PA | Dayton |
| Nelly Joseph | 23 | C | 6'9" | 240 | Senior | Lagos, Nigeria | Iona |

### 2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Tru Washington #19 SG | Phoenix, AZ | AZ Compass Prep | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Jadyn Toppin #27 PF | Dallas, TX | Faith Family Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Sep 19, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: – Rivals: – ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "New Mexico Commit List for 2023". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023. "Men's Basketball Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023. "ESPN – New Mexico Lobos Basketball Recruiting 2023". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023. ||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| October 26, 2023* 7:00 p.m., – | | CSU Pueblo | W 83–65 | – | 26 – Dent | 7 – Tied | 6 – Dent | The Pit (9,290) Albuquerque, NM |
| November 1, 2023* 7:00 p.m., – | | New Mexico Highlands | W 86–73 | – | 25 – Mashburn Jr. | 9 – Webb | 4 – Dent | The Pit (9,474) Albuquerque, NM |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 6, 2023* 7:30 p.m., MW Network | | Texas Southern | W 92–55 | 1–0 | 15 – Mashburn Jr. | 9 – Toppin | 6 – Dent | The Pit (11,106) Albuquerque, NM |
| November 9, 2023* 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at No. 23 Saint Mary's | L 58–72 | 1–1 | 15 – Dent | 13 – Junior Joseph | 5 – Dent | University Credit Union Pavilion (3,500) Moraga, CA |
| November 16, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | UT Arlington | W 82–80 | 2–1 | 29 – Mashburn Jr. | 10 – Toppin | 5 – Dent | The Pit (10,484) Albuquerque, NM |
| November 21, 2023* 9:15 p.m., – | | vs. Toledo Ball Dawgs Classic | W 92–84 | 3–1 | 27 – Tied | 11 – Toppin | 7 – Dent | Dollar Loan Center (N/A) Henderson, NV |
| November 22, 2023* 7:45 p.m., – | | vs. Rice Ball Dawgs Classic | W 90–56 | 4–1 | 18 – Dent | 7 – Tied | 11 – Dent | Dollar Loan Center (N/A) Henderson, NV |
| November 24, 2023* 4:45 p.m., – | | vs. Pepperdine Ball Dawgs Classic | W 90–71 | 5–1 | 24 – Dent | 12 – Washington | 7 – Dent | Dollar Loan Center (N/A) Henderson, NV |
| November 29, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | Louisiana Tech | W 74–65 | 6–1 | 18 – Baker | 11 – Junior Joseph | 4 – Tied | The Pit (10,216) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 2, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | New Mexico State Rio Grande Rivalry | W 106–62 | 7–1 | 28 – House | 6 – Mushila | 10 – Dent | The Pit (15,435) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 6, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | UC Santa Barbara | W 84–61 | 8–1 | 23 – Dent | 9 – Mushila | 8 – Dent | The Pit (10,311) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 9, 2023* 3:00 p.m., – | | vs. Santa Clara Jack Jones Classic | W 93–76 | 9–1 | 22 – Dent | 7 – Mushila | 4 – Dent | Dollar Loan Center (N/A) Henderson, NV |
| December 15, 2023* 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at New Mexico State Rio Grande Rivalry | W 73–72 | 10–1 | 18 – Toppin | 11 – Toppin | 6 – Dent | Pan American Center (5,182) Las Cruces, NM |
| December 20, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | UC Irvine | W 78–65 | 11–1 | 20 – House | 11 – Toppin | 5 – House | The Pit (11,536) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 29, 2023* 7:00 p.m., MW Network | | Eastern New Mexico | W 87–54 | 12–1 | 22 – House | 16 – Junior Joseph | 5 – Tied | The Pit (11,962) Albuquerque, NM |
| Mountain West regular season |||||||||
| January 2, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | at No. 13 Colorado State | L 68–76 | 12–2 (0–1) | 17 – Toppin | 11 – Toppin | 9 – Dent | Moby Arena (5,165) Fort Collins, CO |
| January 6, 2024 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Wyoming | W 77–60 | 13–2 (1–1) | 21 – Dent | 9 – Junior Joseph | 5 – House | The Pit (12,611) Albuquerque, NM |
| January 9, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | at UNLV | L 73–83 | 13–3 (1–2) | 16 – Tied | 9 – Junior Joseph | 6 – House | Thomas & Mack Center (5,760) Paradise, NV |
| January 13, 2024 12:00 p.m., CBS | | No. 19 San Diego State Rivalry | W 88–70 | 14–3 (2–2) | 26 – House | 16 – Toppin | 5 – House | The Pit (15,437) Albuquerque, NM |
| January 16, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | No. 16 Utah State | W 99–86 | 15–3 (3–2) | 26 – Junior Joseph | 8 – Junior Joseph | 14 – Dent | The Pit (13,106) Albuquerque, NM |
| January 20, 2024 2:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Air Force | W 85–66 | 16–3 (4–2) | 25 – Toppin | 13 – Toppin | 3 – Tied | Clune Arena (2,785) Colorado Springs, CO |
| January 24, 2024 9:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 25 | at San José State | W 95–75 | 17–3 (5–2) | 18 – House | 10 – Toppin | 5 – Dent | Provident Credit Union Event Center (3,118) San Jose, CA |
| January 28, 2024 8:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 25 | Nevada | W 89–55 | 18–3 (6–2) | 21 – House | 10 – Junior Joseph | 6 – House | The Pit (15,021) Albuquerque, NM |
| January 31, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 19 | Boise State | L 78–86 | 18–4 (6–3) | 31 – Dent | 15 – Toppin | 3 – House | The Pit (13,239) Albuquerque, NM |
| February 6, 2024 6:30 p.m., MW Network | No. 25 | at Wyoming | W 91–73 | 19–4 (7–3) | 19 – Dent | 13 – Toppin | 7 – Dent | Arena-Auditorium (3,685) Laramie, WY |
| February 10, 2024 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 25 | UNLV | L 77–80 | 19–5 (7–4) | 20 – Tied | 12 – Toppin | 4 – Amzil | The Pit (15,435) Albuquerque, NM |
| February 13, 2024 9:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Nevada | W 83–82 | 20–5 (8–4) | 17 – Mashburn Jr. | 13 – Junior Joesph | 7 – Dent | Lawlor Events Center (8,293) Reno, NV |
| February 16, 2024 8:00 p.m., FS1 | | at San Diego State Rivalry | L 70–81 | 20–6 (8–5) | 22 – House | 11 – Amzil | 2 – Tied | Viejas Arena (12,414) San Diego, CA |
| February 21, 2024 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | No. 22 Colorado State | W 68–66 | 21–6 (9–5) | 16 – Tied | 12 – Junior Joseph | 3 – Tied | The Pit (14,618) Albuquerque, NM |
| February 24, 2024 2:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Air Force | L 77–78 | 21–7 (9–6) | 17 – Joseph | 9 – Joseph | 5 – Dent | The Pit (15,011) Albuquerque, NM |
| March 2, 2024 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Boise State | L 79–89 | 21–8 (9–7) | 21 – Toppin | 12 – Junior Joseph | 6 – Dent | ExtraMile Arena (12,184) Boise, ID |
| March 6, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | | Fresno State | W 79–58 | 22–8 (10–7) | 19 – Mashburn Jr. | 16 – Toppin | 7 – Dent | The Pit (13,140) Albuquerque, NM |
| March 9, 2024 6:30 p.m., CBSSN | | at No. 22 Utah State | L 85–87 | 22–9 (10–8) | 18 – Amzil | 10 – Junior Joseph | 6 – House | Smith Spectrum (10,270) Logan, UT |
| Mountain West tournament |||||||||
| March 13, 2024 5:00 p.m., Stadium | (6) | vs. (11) Air Force First Round | W 82–56 | 23–9 | 18 – Toppin | 11 – Toppin | 9 – Dent | Thomas & Mack Center (5,858) Paradise, NV |
| March 14, 2024 9:30 p.m., CBSSN | (6) | vs. (3) Boise State Quarterfinals | W 76–66 | 24–9 | 29 – House | 13 – Toppin | 4 – Dent | Thomas & Mack Center (8,561) Paradise, NV |
| March 15, 2024 10:00 p.m., CBSSN | (6) | vs. (7) Colorado State Semifinals | W 74–61 | 25–9 | 19 – House | 12 – Joseph | 8 – House | Thomas & Mack Center (13,213) Paradise, NV |
| March 16, 2024 4:00 p.m., CBS | (6) | vs. (5) San Diego State Championship | W 68–61 | 26–9 | 28 – House | 11 – Toppin | 4 – Dent | Thomas & Mack Center (11,112) Paradise, NV |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 22, 2024* 1:10 p.m., TruTV | (11 W) | vs. (6 W) Clemson First Round | L 56–77 | 26–10 | 14 – Joseph | 12 – Joseph | 2 – House | FedExForum (12,754) Memphis,TN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Mountain Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Final |
| AP | RV | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 19 | 25 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 20 | 25 | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | — |