Lobo fans fill Las Vegas arena

LAS VEGAS, NV (KRQE) - A large group of fans making their way out to the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas ended up having a longer day than anticipated. The busses loaded up at the Sunport late Wednesday night, and arrived in Sin City just an hour before the Lobo’s first game.

“What happened was, we ran into a snow storm between Gallup and Flagstaff. It took us 12 hours to get over here,” Bob Martinez said after the Lobo’s 75-69 narrow win over the Air Force Academy.

“That was the longest ride I’ve put in, in a long time and it was well worth it,” Lobo fan Marv Schneider said.

A large group of fans making their way out to the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas ended up having a longer day than anticipated. The busses loaded up at the Sunport late Wednesday night, and arrived in Sin City just an hour before the Lobo’s first game.

It’s estimated six thousand lobo fans showed up for the noon tip-off. By halftime concession stands sold out of most Lobo t-shirts. With a significant majority of the crowd made up of Lobo fans, almost everyone said it felt like home.

“We’re more and more amazed we’re talking about noon on a Thursday. Noon on a work day and the place is full of Lobo fans. The seas of red our guys walk through to get on the bus. I just can’t thank them enough and how much that means to your program,” University of New Mexico Head Basketball Coach Steve Alford said.

The number of UNM fans is expected to grow with games now on the weekend. The Lobo’s take on the San Diego State Aztecs Friday at 7:00 Mountain Time.