Lobos a 3 seed in the NCAA tourney

THE PIT (KRQE) - The New Mexico Lobos are returning to the NCAA tournament as a No. 3 seed, and will play Montana on Thrusday in San Jose.

The Cherry and Silver finished the year with a school record 29 wins and their second straight Mountain West Conference regular season title.

Fans and the team cheered loudly at a selection party at The Pit when the Lobos were officially announced into the championship field.

New Mexico will travel to San Jose, hoping to earn their first trip ever to the Sweet 16. If they win either Marquette or Washington will await them in the next round.

In 11 NCAA tournament appearances, the Lobos are 6-12.

This is the first NCAA tournament appearance for the Lobos under Head Coach Steve Alford.

The last time UNM played in the Big Dance was 2005. Then, they lost to a higher ranked Villanova team 55-47.

New Mexico had their greatest success in the tournament in the late 90s when the reached the second round four straight years.