Lobos Guards Key to Reaching Full Potential vs Fresno State

UNM coach Eric Olen says Antonio Chol and Deyton Albury must stay aggressive for the Lobos to reach their full potential.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 2:19am

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The UNM Lobos basketball team is heading to Fresno State for a key Mountain West matchup, and head coach Eric Olen says the play of guards Antonio Chol and Deyton Albury will be crucial to the team reaching its full potential. Chol has been asked to space the defense with his outside shooting, while Albury is tasked with aggressively attacking the rim to open up the offense for others. Despite some recent shooting struggles, Olen has continued to encourage Chol to keep shooting, and Albury's constant aggressive mindset is seen as a key part of the Lobos' identity.

Why it matters

The Lobos are 20-6 overall and 11-4 in Mountain West play, making this a crucial late-season matchup as they look to solidify their position in the conference standings. The guard play of Chol and Albury will be a major factor in determining whether the Lobos can reach their full potential and pick up a key road win against a tough Fresno State team.

The details

Chol, a 6-foot-9 junior college transfer, has been asked to be a high-volume 3-point shooter for the Lobos, spacing the floor for the rest of the offense. Despite a recent 6-for-26 slump from deep, Olen has continued to encourage Chol to keep shooting, and he has responded with strong performances in the last two games. Albury, the senior point guard, is tasked with aggressively attacking the rim, which Olen sees as a crucial part of the Lobos' identity even if it leads to some turnovers. The coach believes Albury's rim pressure opens things up for the rest of the offense.

  • The Lobos (20-6, 11-4 Mountain West) will visit Fresno State on Saturday, February 25, 2026.
  • Chol had a recent 6-for-26 (23.1%) 3-point shooting slump over a six-game stretch.

The players

Eric Olen

The head coach of the UNM Lobos basketball team.

Antonio Chol

A 6-foot-9 junior college transfer who is a starting guard for the Lobos, asked to be a high-volume 3-point shooter to space the floor.

Deyton Albury

The senior point guard for the Lobos, tasked with aggressively attacking the rim to open up the offense for his teammates.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes I'll pass up one — this was when I'm in the slump — and coach would be like, 'You got to shoot that!' That's when I started realizing, 'Yo, these guys really believe in me.' I just congratulate them so much because I don't think I could have this breakthrough without them.”

— Antonio Chol, Starting Guard (abqjournal.com)

“Antonio is so important to our team. His size and the athleticism that he brings, his shooting that could space the floor. When Chol is making shots like that, we're a completely different team. It makes everything easier for everybody. It gives me more space to drive, gives Tom (Tomislav Buljan) more space to work in the post. ... Everybody is better when Chol is playing good.”

— Deyton Albury, Senior Point Guard (abqjournal.com)

“We want Deyton to be aggressive all the time. We understand that there is a cost benefit to that, right? Deyton is going to have more turnovers than other players. The ball's in his hands a ton. He's aggressive. He's in traffic. We feel like the benefits outweigh some of those negative possessions with his rim pressure. ... We want him to be himself as he continues to grow in what we're doing. But we need a good version of Deyton Albury to be the best version of our team.”

— Eric Olen, Head Coach (abqjournal.com)

What’s next

The Lobos will look to continue their recent dominance over Fresno State, having won the last five meetings between the two teams. This will be the final scheduled trip for UNM to the Save Mart Center in Fresno, as the Bulldogs are moving to the Pac-12 conference after this season.

The takeaway

The play of Lobos guards Antonio Chol and Deyton Albury will be crucial if UNM wants to reach its full potential and pick up a key road win against Fresno State. Chol's ability to space the floor with his outside shooting, and Albury's aggressive attacking mindset, are both essential parts of the Lobos' offensive identity.