ALBUQUERQUE, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Dairese Gary made a dozen free throws and scored 18 points Friday, helping No. 17 New Mexico hold on for a 68-66 victory over Dayton.
The Lobos had an eight-point lead with 4 minutes remaining and had to survive three Dayton 3-point shots in the final 55 seconds.
New Mexico went to the foul line 43 times and made 26 of the attempts while improving to 14-1. The only setback for the Lobos came last week against Oral Roberts.
Dayton (10-3) had won eight in a row since suffering back-to-back losses to Villanova and Kansas State in November.
Roman Martinez added 17 for the Lobos and Darington Hobson had 15. New Mexico held Dayton to 33 percent shooting from the field and the Flyers hit on just 8-of-33 3-point attempts.
Chris Johnson, with 21 points, was the only player in double figures for Dayton.
