KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The University of New Mexico Men’s Basketball Team Scrimmages for Kirtland
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About 100 University of New Mexico Lobos basketball fans from across Kirtland watched players from the team scrimmage at the East Fitness Center.
The scrimmage was scheduled on base to allow the team to show appreciation to military members.
“We do this not only for the service of our military members, but for their also being a part of our community,” said head coach Craig Neal. “The team is driven by this support and so we are happy to be here to return the same gesture.”
Neal leads the UNM team with professional coaching experience that covers three championship series and eight seasons in the National Basketball Association.
For the hour-long scrimmage, the Lobos showed their basketball prowess with mid-range shots, layups, three-pointers, dunks and alley-oops combined with endless sprinting – evidence of the team’s year-round training regime.
As a wrap-up, Neal pulled Airman 1st Class Abraham Guerrero from the bleachers for a chance to win season tickets. Guerrero chose five players to shoot from half court, but nobody was able to make a basket.
To better the odds, Neal let the entire team shoot again, but still nobody was able to make a basket. Despite their efforts, Neal gifted Guerrero with season tickets.
“I didn’t expect that they were going to call my name. It was a cool moment and I will definitely try to make it out to all of the games now that I have season tickets,” said Guerrero, a finance specialist with the 150th Special Operations Wing Comptroller Flight.
The scrimmage finished with fans gathering round to get autographs from their favorite players.
The UNM men’s basketball scrimmage is one of two events the university has organized for military appreciation. The next event is Heroes Day, with Lobo football playing Nevada Wolfpack on Nov. 5 at University Stadium. To purchase discounted tickets log onto www.groupmatics.events/nmheroes and use the promo code “Kirtland.”