Hobson, Lobos all business

If there’s an interesting story behind why Darington Hobson left Las Vegas, and what led him on a winding road to New Mexico, he’s not going to tell it. Not this week, at least.

It’s not time to get personal, he said, while restricting the conversation to business.

The top spot in the Mountain West Conference is on the line as 23rd-ranked UNLV (19-4, 7-2) hosts No. 15 New Mexico (21-3, 7-2) at 8 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"Coming home and playing in front of my family and friends is all good. But it’s not really about that," Hobson said. "We’re trying to stay in the hunt and win the conference.

"Our team is playing really good, and UNLV is playing really good. It’s going to be real intense."

The winner will break a three-way tie in the MWC and move a half-game ahead of Brigham Young, which next plays Saturday.

Each of the leaders is fueled by a star junior guard. BYU’s Jimmer Fredette has had the inside track on Player of the Year, but the Rebels’ Tre’Von Willis has pulled about even, and Hobson seems to be gaining ground.

Hobson is a versatile 6-foot-7-inch wing scorer similar in style to former Lobos J.R. Giddens and Tony Danridge.

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher called Hobson "the best pro prospect in the league." That is up for debate, but Hobson’s talents are undeniable.

"Hobson is a terrific all-around player," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "He can score in a lot of different ways, and he rebounds and he moves the ball because he’s got good size to see over people."

Willis had a career-high 33 points, eight assists, five rebounds and no turnovers in 38 minutes as the Rebels blasted BYU 88-74 on Saturday. That performance was strong enough to make him the ESPN.com Player of the Week.

But Willis shared the conference award with Hobson, who had 29 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in 43 minutes to carry New Mexico past San Diego State 88-86 in overtime.

"I feel he’s a very good player," Willis said. "He’s a lefty, so he’s a little unorthodox. He’s got a pretty big body, and he’s long. We’ve got to be ready to battle him and stop him."

Hobson leads the Lobos in scoring (15.6 points per game), rebounding (8.5) and assists (4.3), and no New Mexico player has ever led the team in all three categories for an entire season. So it’s fitting that he wears jersey No. 1.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Hobson attended Western High School as a freshman. He moved with his mother to Houston, where he played at Gulf Shores Academy. A 2007 graduate of Decatur (Ill.) Christian High, Hobson spent two years at the College of Eastern Utah.

Steve Alford, in his third season as the Lobos’ coach, followed Hobson’s trail and developed a relationship with him.

"That’s the reason I’m here," Hobson said of Alford and his assistant coaches.

"We’ve known Darington for a long time. I recruited him at Iowa," Alford said. "Darington’s issue has always been about consistency. It has never been about talent or ability to play. The difference in Darington (this season) is that he has been very consistent. He’s got an enormously high basketball IQ."

In UNLV’s 74-62 victory at New Mexico on Jan. 9, Hobson had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four turnovers. He was not a major factor, however, as Willis and Kendall Wallace highlighted a dominant performance by the Rebels.

"I said when they beat us, I thought (UNLV) was the best team we’ve played," Alford said. "At least in how things match up against us, I still think this is the best team that we play."

The Lobos, who started 0-2 in the league, have lost four in a row to the Rebels at the Thomas & Mack.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.