Jake Hall celebrates during UNM’s 94 to 69 win over Little Rock. Photo: UNM Athletics
“That San Diego State game in the conference tournament, they tried to rough me up and make everything hard for me… Their physicality deferred me from what I was doing so in the offseason I knew it was coming. I’m just finding ways to play through it and get(ting) them to stay honest.””
Jake Hall is becoming a cheat code.
The sophomore pre-season Mountain West conference player of the year had a bad shooting night, missing eight 3-pointers and shooting only 43% overall from the field, yet he still set a career high of 39 points in UNM’s 94 to 69 win over the University of Arkansas Little Rock in the Pit on Tuesday in front of a home crowd of 11,058.
Hall has proven over the preseason and now the first three games that he no longer just a 3-point shooter. The sophomore drew 9 fouls against UARL and shot a career high 15 free throw attempts. Hall is now 31-of-35 from the free throw line on the season and on-pace to beat his 105 free throw attempts in only the first seven games this year.
“I think it comes with just preparation,” Hall said on MW+ about how he’s been able to get to the free throw line through three games. “Knowing how teams are going to guard me, just knowing they’re going to try to be physical.”
So far this season, the high-free throw shooting volume shows he has figured out how to attack the basket or draw fouls off the dribble—something he was not doing consistently last season.
Hall referred to the 1-of-10 performance against San Diego State in the conference tournament, where the Aztecs got physical with Hall and did not allow his scoring to impact the game.
“That San Diego State game in the conference tournament, they tried to rough me up and make everything hard for me… Their physicality deferred me from what I was doing so in the offseason I knew it was coming. I’m just finding ways to play through it and get(ting) them to stay honest.”
Through three games, Hall is averaging 30.7 pionts per game and getting to the free throw line 11.6 times per game.
Tenette Finds His Rhythm
After a quiet 1-of-5 performance from beyond the arc against Northern Arizona, sophomore guard Uriah Tenette responded with 17 points against Little Rock, giving UNM an early offensive spark.
The Lobos fell behind 0-2 for the first time this season, but Tenette quickly took over, scoring 12 of UNM's first 19 points and knocking down all four of his 3-point attempts during that stretch.
“They were going under a little bit on the initial ball-screen,” head coach Eric Olen said after the game. “I think he made two threes off of just like, they went under and he shot I know one in the second half and at least one in the first half off was just off the under which is him making the read and taking what they give him.”
Nine of Tenette’s 11 shots against Little Rock came from behind the arc. Tenette dished out five assists, but Olen wants Uriah to attack the basket and get to the rim.
“I would have liked to see him attack the basket a little more as the game went on versus some of the switches,” Olen said. “I thought he settled a little. I mean you start out, you make your first five threes, I don’t know, it’s probably going to happen.”
Tenette is averaging 18 points through the first three games to go along with 7 assists compared to four turnovers.
Lobo Bigs Grab 18 Rebounds
Little Rock was by far the most physical of UNM’s three regular season opponents. The Lobos lost the rebound count 20 to 17 in the first half, but allowed only one offensive rebound in the second half and won the rebound count 40 to 34.
“The glass was important for us,” Olen said on 96.3 News Radio KKOB after the game. “They only got one offensive rebound in the second half.
UNM’s big-men Federico Grani, Benjamin Schuch, and Fynn Lastring each combined for 18 total team rebounds, which was their collective high through the first three games.
“Eighteen rebounds out of that spot is big time,” Olen said.
Schuch led the team in rebounding for the second straight game with seven. He added three assists while not attempting one shot from the field.
Rytis Petratis
The senior forward had not suited up since Oct. 11 in the opening exhibition game against Oklahoma State. Petraitis was allotted 12 total minutes, but played 9 tonight. He scored 3 points and added two rebounds but was just getting some reps in the hopes that he can play against Santa Clara on Saturday
“We kind of debated, just because like we just want to try to get him as healthy as possible, but we also didn’t want Saturday to be his first opportunity on the floor,” Olen said. “We were able to get him some reps…I thought he was impactful. He plays really hard. A couple offensive rebounds. I think he’ll get his timing on the layups. Hes a little rusty in there. He’s not quite as connected as everybody else in the rotation…”
Petraitis was seen warming up on the Pit ramp at various times while he was on the bench.
Turnover Battle
UNM currently sits at No. 8 in the entire country in Ken Pom’s turnover % metric after three games. The Lobos forced 16 turnovers against Little Rock while scoring 22 points off those turnovers. The Lobos have now forced a combined 47 turnovers through three games.
“I think as we are getting more and more comfortable with the execution and the rotations, we’re in the right spot more often,” Olen said. “Guys are in the right spot and making a lot of plays. We got guys with good hands. I think we have several guys who naturally steal the basketball. I thought our activity was really good. Anytime we can turn defense into offense it gives us a chance to be pretty efficient.”
The Lobos have been able to create live ball turnovers. They have 34 steals through the first thee games and have turned their defensive turnovers into 68 combined points off turnovers.
What’s Next: The Lobos will take on Santa Clara on the road on Sat. Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. MT. The game will air on ESPN+.
Jake Hall poured in a career-high 39 points to lead UNM men's basketball past Little Rock 94-69, showing he can impact the game beyond his 3-point shooting. Hall drew nine fouls and attempted a career-high 15 free throws. Uriah Tenette added 17 points, while the Lobos' frontcourt combined for 18 rebounds. UNM also forced 16 turnovers, continuing its strong defensive start and turning pressure into offense through the first three games.