GAME NOTES: The top team in the Mountain West Conference heads back to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon, as the Wyoming Cowboys host the New Mexico Lobos at Arena-Auditorium.

The Cowboys, who ranked 25th in the Associated Press Poll last week, have been out of action for the last seven days and probably needed the extended rest. After suffering a 60-52 loss to San Diego State at home on Jan. 14, the Cowboys turned around and took on Fresno State in California three days later, forced to go to three overtimes before securing a 70-65 win.

As for the Lobos, they remain one of two teams in the nation that has yet to allow 70 points to an opponent in 2014-15. On Wednesday night, UNM came close to being scratched off that list but not only remained unscathed, it also came up with an exciting 71-69 win over UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The victory was the third in the last four outings for a New Mexico squad that is now alone in third place in the MWC standings with a record of 5-2, trailing only the Pokes and San Diego State.

As far as the all-time series is concerned, New Mexico clings to a 66-64 advantage dating back to 1950. The most recent matchup took place in Albuquerque on Feb. 5, 2014 with the hosts claiming a 66-61 victory in overtime. As a result, the Lobos find themselves with an eight-game win streak in the series.

The last win for the Cowboys over UNM was a narrow 67-66 final at home in early 2011.

Hugh Greenwood posted 22 points and eight rebounds as the New Mexico Lobos squeezed out the two-point win at UNLV three nights ago. Greenwood, who opened the contest with a successful 3-pointer, connected on 6-of-9 shots beyond the arc for the Lobos, the only player to score in double figures for the visitors. While Greenwood supplied the sustained offense, it was Jordan Goodman who played the hero with a put-back with 9.1 seconds remaining to give UNM the victory.

The Lobos continue to hit the hardwood week after week without the services of guard Cullen Neal (17.0 ppg), who is suffering with a severe sprained left ankle and played in just three games. Deshawn Delaney has filled some of the void with his 12.6 ppg, shooting 52.5 percent from the floor, but just 59.4 percent at the free-throw line. Greenwood contributes another 11.3 ppg as he fills his stat line with 5.1 rpg, 68 assists and 25 steals, but there are also times when his persistent efforts to be a 3-point threat have hurt the team more than helped.

The meeting with Fresno State was for first place in the MWC standings, but everyone got more than they bargained for as the Cowboys survived an additional 15 minutes of action, thanks to Charles Hankerson who converted a key 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in the third bonus session. Hankerson finished with just nine points, taking a back seat to Larry Nance Jr. who posted 21 points and 11 rebounds, as well as Derek Cooke Jr. who also registered a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 15 boards.

Josh Adams pitched in with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals as the team survived 17 turnovers and a mere six offensive rebounds, not to mention 15-of-26 shooting at the free-throw line.

Thanks to some impressive defensive efforts against non-conference foes early on, the Cowboys check in with just 53.3 ppg allowed over the course of 19 games. The number is not quite as impressive when clashing with MWC foes (60.5 ppg), but still the victories are rolling in for Wyoming. Playing an average of 39.8 minutes per game in conference, Nance Jr. leads the way with 20.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg, while Adams supplies another 14.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg, which means the pair accounts for more than half the unit's 64.5 ppg.

Assume these two teams will be putting their best foot forward when it comes to defending the other. While UNM has been a perpetual competitor for the top spot in the MWC, this might be the right time for the Cowboys to shine and make a name for themselves outside of Laramie.