We move on to the quarterfinals of the NIT Tournament as the St Joe’s Hawks pay a visit to the Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to grapple with the New Mexico Lobos. The Hawks enter this contest with road wins over the Colorado State Rams and California Golden Bears, putting them at 24-11 on the year.\u00a0 The New Mexico Lobos have had a solid season again, coming in at 25-10 overall, including 16-3 here at home. They got to the quarterfinals with home wins over the Sam Houston State Bearkats and George Washington Revolutionaries. Which team will head to New York for the Final Four of the NIT Tournament? Read on to see my St. Joe’s vs New Mexico prediction.<\/p>\n
Odds: New Mexico -11; Over\/Under 152.5<\/strong><\/p>\n St. Joe’s enters the NIT quarterfinals<\/a> at 24\u201311 after impressive road wins over Colorado State and California, showing poise in tight moments and strong late\u2011game execution. The Hawks average 73.3 points, shoot 42.9%, and rely on Jaiden Glover<\/a>, who leads with 16.0 points. Derek Simpson<\/a> adds scoring and playmaking, while Dasear Haskins<\/a> provides interior production. St. Joe’s rebounds well with 39.0 boards per game, and their ability to compete physically has fueled their postseason surge. Their confidence on the road is growing, and they\u2019ve already proven they can win in difficult environments.<\/p>\n Defensively, St. Joe’s allows 69.9 points and holds opponents to 40.6% shooting, ranking among the better units in the NIT field. They defend the three well and force opponents into long possessions. Their biggest challenge will be containing New Mexico\u2019s pace and preventing early\u2011clock threes. St. Joe’s must also stay disciplined in transition, as New Mexico thrives when the game speeds up. If the Hawks control tempo, they can keep this matchup close.<\/p>\n For St. Joe’s to advance, they need efficient perimeter shooting, strong rebounding, and steady guard play. Glover must stay aggressive, Simpson must manage pace, and Haskins must compete on the glass. The Hawks have already beaten New Mexico once this season, winning 81\u201368 in the American semifinals, so confidence will not be an issue. If St. Joe’s limits turnovers and maintains defensive structure, they can push this game deep into the second half.<\/p>\n New Mexico<\/a> enters this matchup at 25\u201310 after home wins over Sam Houston State and George Washington, continuing a season defined by explosive offense and dominant play at The Pit. The Lobos are 16\u20133 at home, and they average 81.5 points on 46.3% shooting. Jake Hall<\/a> leads with 16.0 points, while Tomislav Buljan<\/a> adds 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. Uriah Tenette<\/a> and Antonio Chol<\/a> provide additional scoring depth. New Mexico\u2019s balance and pace make them extremely difficult to contain, especially in front of their home crowd.<\/p>\n Defensively, New Mexico allows 70.9 points and holds opponents to 42.0% shooting, but they can be vulnerable inside. Their biggest challenge will be handling Saint Joseph\u2019s rebounding and preventing second\u2011chance points. New Mexico must also defend without fouling, as the Hawks attack the paint and draw contact. Deyton Albury<\/a> is questionable with the flu, which could impact New Mexico\u2019s backcourt rotation. If the Lobos maintain defensive discipline, their offense can take control.<\/p>\nSt. Joe’s Hawks<\/h3>\n
New Mexico Lobos<\/h3>\n