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Fresno State unable to hold 22-point lead, lose to New Mexico
The Bulldogs led by as many as 22 points in the first half but couldn't hold on as the Lobos rallied back for an 80-78 victory.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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The Fresno State Bulldogs led by as many as 22 points in the first half, but the visiting New Mexico Lobos rallied back to hand the 'Dogs an 80-78 home loss on Saturday. Fresno State's leading scorer Jake Heidbreder returned to the lineup and scored 22 points, but the Lobos mounted a 36-16 run to erase the large deficit. Neither team led by more than four points over the final 10 minutes, with New Mexico's Jake Hall making the difference-making play with a late jumper to put the Lobos ahead by three.
Why it matters
This was a tough loss for Fresno State, who had built a commanding lead early on but couldn't hold on against the visiting Lobos. The Bulldogs had a chance to pull off an upset over the higher-ranked New Mexico team, but the Lobos' comeback shows their resilience and ability to battle back from large deficits. This game highlights the challenges Fresno State faces in the competitive Mountain West conference.
The details
Fresno State raced out to a 40-18 lead with 5:20 left in the first half, with Heidbreder scoring 13 early points. But the Lobos answered with a 36-16 run to cut the deficit to just 56-54 with 11:53 remaining. The final 10 minutes featured a back-and-forth battle, with five ties and four lead changes. New Mexico's Hall hit a key jumper with 22 seconds left to put the Lobos up by three, and Fresno State couldn't answer on the other end.
- Fresno State led 40-18 with 5:20 left in the first half.
- New Mexico cut the deficit to 56-54 with 11:53 remaining in the game.
- New Mexico's Hall hit the game-winning jumper with 22 seconds left.
The players
Jake Heidbreder
Fresno State's leading scorer, who returned from injury to score a game-high 22 points.
Jake Hall
New Mexico's season-leading scorer, who hit the difference-making jumper late to put the Lobos ahead.
Deyton Albury
New Mexico player who scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds to power the Lobos' comeback.
What they’re saying
“They're a good team. You may jump up on them, but you know eventually they're gonna come back. I just felt we gave them too many easy buckets coming back. That was the thing that bothered me - the live-ball turnovers for breakaway buckets, you just can't do.”
— Justin Walberg, Fresno State Head Coach (247sports.com)
“Honestly, I went home last night and I didn't think he was going to play. He said his back was worse yesterday than it was the day before. He has not practiced with us - he didn't do any five-on-five since that injury a week ago Tuesday. For him to go out there ... I'm very proud of Jake.”
— Justin Walberg, Fresno State Head Coach (247sports.com)
What’s next
Fresno State next travels to Colorado State on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to face the Rams. The Bulldogs will then return home on Saturday, Feb. 28 when they host the Boise State Broncos.
The takeaway
This game showcases the challenges Fresno State faces in the competitive Mountain West conference, as they were unable to hold onto a large lead against a talented New Mexico team. However, the Bulldogs' ability to battle back and nearly pull off the upset despite key injuries demonstrates their resilience and potential for the remainder of the season.
