March Madness 2025: Donovan Dent leads No. 10 New Mexico to upset win over Shaka Smart, No. 7 Marquette
For the first time in more than a decade, the Lobos are into the second round of the NCAA tournament.
No. 10 New Mexico surged ahead late and stunned Kam Jones and No. 7 Marquette with a 75-66 win in their first-round matchup at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. It’s the team’s first win in the NCAA tournament in 13 years, and now has them on the cusp of reaching their first-ever Sweet 16.
FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT WIN IN 13 YEARS FOR @UNMLOBOMBB! pic.twitter.com/U747tVNuoF
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 22, 2025
While the Lobos led nearly the entire way in the battle, it wasn’t until a late run in the second half that finally sent them firmly ahead. They went on a long 10-0 run that lasted more than three minutes, powered by a pair of huge buckets from guard Donovan Dent. The Golden Eagles offense seemed to just run out of gas at that point, too. They managed just eight points in the final six minutes of the game, three of which came in garbage time, while the Lobos powered ahead to the win without much issue down the stretch.
Dent led the way for the Lobos with 23 points and six assists while shooting 7-of-17 from the field. Nelly Junior Joseph added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Tru Washington dropped 12 points. The Lobos shot just 5-of-14 from behind the arc as a team, though they out-rebounded Marquette by seven.
David Joplin led Marquette with 28 points behind six 3-pointers in the loss. Jones had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. It marked his 50th consecutive game with at least 10 points, which is the longest streak in Division-I men’s basketball. Jones and Joplin were the only two Marquette players to hit double figures.
This is now just the second first-round exit for the Golden Eagles under head coach Shaka Smart. While he’s made it to the tournament in all four of his seasons at the helm, Marquette reached the Sweet 16 last season in what was their deepest run since the Buzz Williams era in 2012.
The Lobos' win added to what was a historic day for the Mountain West, which had 23 straight losses in the first round of the NCAA tournament as double-digit seeds. With the win, and Colorado State's win over Memphis, the league has now won back-to-back games in that position.
The win was historic for head coach Richard Pitino, too. Pitino, who is in his fourth season with the program, joined his dad with wins in the tournament this spring after Rick Pitino led St. John's out of the first round. They are now the first father-son duo to win in the tournament in the same year.
New Mexico will now take on either No. 2 Michigan State or No. 15 Bryant in the next round.
Topics
-
New Mexico vs. Marquette: Players other than star guards Kam Jones, Donovan Dent will be key
Mar. 20—CLEVELAND, Ohio — Marquette's Kam Jones. New Mexico's Donovan Dent. They're the names that have been on the top of every opposing scouting report on the No. 7 Golden Eagles or No. 10 Lobos. ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Donovan Dent scores 21 points to lead New Mexico over Marquette 75-66 in March Madness
No. 10 seed New Mexico took control late in the second half to defeat seventh-seeded Marquette.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
NCAA Tournament Cleveland 2025 scores | New Mexico vs. Marquette live updates, highlights
No. 7 Marquette plays No. 10 New Mexico in first round of March Madness. Follow for live NCAA tournament updates from Cleveland's Rocket Arena.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Marquette vs. New Mexico, March Madness predictions, time: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for New Mexico Lobos vs. Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 14h -
New Mexico tops Marquette to advance in NCAA Tournament
Mar. 21—CLEVELAND — New Mexico surged into the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 75-66 upset victory over Marquette on Friday. The 10th-seeded Lobos finished the game on a 22-11 run ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Marquette's Jones, New Mexico's Dent headline intriguing guard matchup in South Region
Marquette's Kam Jones and New Mexico's Donovan Dent will face each other Friday night in an intriguing NCAA Tournament first-round matchup of do-everything guards. Jones and the seventh-seeded ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Dent has 25, New Mexico beats San Jose State 63-52 in Mountain West Conference Tournament
Donovan Dent had 25 points in New Mexico's 63-52 win over San Jose State on Thursday in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Dent added five assists for the Lobos (26-6). Nelly ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 13 -
NCAA Tournament: No. 10 New Mexico to play No. 7 Marquette in the first round
Mar. 16—There were cheers, some woofing from fans and genuine excitement as the UNM Lobos and a few hundred of their fans gathered in the Pit on Sunday to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Marquette March Madness mailbag: Questions about MU's offense; will Shaka Smart leave after NCAA tournament?
Before the Golden Eagles face New Mexico in a first-round game Friday, beat reporter Ben Steele answered your questions about the game and the teams.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 20m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 24m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 34m
More in Sports
-
Could Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White finish his NBA career a Hall of Famer?
What else would he need to do to make it?Yahoo Sports - 20m -
“I felt that I could improve” – Cucurella reveals aspect of his game he’s “very happy” to have improved
Marc Cucurella is happy he’s added goals to his game as he felt that’s one of the main things he needed to improve on.Cucurella is having a brilliant season for the Blues and has established himse...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Piastri takes pole position at Chinese GP ahead of Russell, Hamilton fifth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes’ George Russell brilliantly managed to insert himself between the two McLarens in Shanghai.Yahoo Sports - 24m -
NFL draft prospect ranks Commanders' Terry McLaurin as a top 3 wide receiver
One NFL draft prospect says Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is one of the league's three best wide receivers.Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Bid prepared: Man United looking to get ahead of Tottenham in race for £50m transfer
Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £50million on the potential transfer of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.According to a report from Fichajes, the Red Devils are ...Yahoo Sports - 34m