UNM basketball holds on for tough road win at Grand Canyon behind Jake Hall

Freshman Jake Hall drops 23 as UNM snaps skid with gritty 70-64 road win at Grand Canyon, holding off a furious second-half rally.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The UNM Lobos rode the hot hand of freshman star Jake Hall to a 70-64 road win over Grand Canyon University on Wednesday night. Hall scored a game-high 23 points, including 8 of the Lobos' final 13 points, to help UNM hold off a furious second-half comeback by the Lopes. The Lobos led by as many as 20 in the first half but had to withstand a strong push by Grand Canyon in the second half before securing the victory.

Why it matters

This win was important for the Lobos as they look to bounce back from a two-game skid and keep pace in the competitive Mountain West Conference. The game also featured a matchup between two of the top teams in the region, with UNM and Grand Canyon both having strong seasons so far.

The details

The Lobos jumped out to a big first-half lead, shooting 60.0% from the field and playing stifling defense to hold Grand Canyon to just 31.3% shooting. However, the Lopes came roaring back in the second half, dominating the glass and attacking the rim to take a 55-54 lead with 9:29 remaining. But Jake Hall hit a clutch step-back jumper to put UNM back on top, and the Lobos held on down the stretch to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Jake Hall

A freshman star for the UNM Lobos who scored a game-high 23 points, including 8 of the team's final 13 points, to lead them to the victory.

Tomislav Buljan

The Lobos' leading rebounder, grabbing 10 boards and adding a key put-back basket late in the game to help seal the win.

Jaden Williams

One of the Grand Canyon Lopes' standout players, scoring 19 points during a key second-half stretch to help fuel the Lopes' comeback effort.

Makaih Williams

The other half of Grand Canyon's dynamic scoring duo, also contributing 19 points in the second-half rally.

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What’s next

The Lobos will look to build on this road win as they continue their Mountain West Conference schedule, while Grand Canyon will aim to rebound from the tough loss.

The takeaway

This game showcased the talent and resilience of both teams, with the Lobos' freshman star Jake Hall leading the way for the victory and the Lopes mounting a furious second-half comeback. The win was an important one for UNM as they look to keep pace in the competitive Mountain West race.