LAS VEGAS -- The "MVP" chants for Darington Hobson got progressively louder, and for good reason.

It was Hobson who did everything he could to keep New Mexico from getting upset by No. 9-seeded Air Force with a 28-point, 15-rebound performance in a 75-69 win in front of a hometown crowd in Las Vegas that also included thousands of Lobos fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"That was a big-time performance by the player of the year," Lobos coach Steve Alford said.

Air Force put a scare into New Mexico, going toe-to-toe with the more physically imposing Lobos and keeping the game to within two possessions all the way down to the final seconds.

Falcons coach Jeff Reynolds had his team making the most of his possessions and also got fired up exchanging words with a Lobos assistant. Play got chippy at times, but New Mexico's talent prevailed.

"We had a lot of defensive letdowns," Lobos senior Roman Martinez said. "You have to give credit to Air Force, but defensively, we have a lot of things to work on."

Dairese Gary also had 20 points for New Mexico, and Tom Fow led Air Force with 17 off the bench.