ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The UNM Men's Basketball team is back in Albuquerque hosting another conference game, but Friday night's game will be special as it marks the program's 1,000th game to be played inside of the Pit. "It's the reason I took the job. I experienced it in an Elite 8 game in 2005, and I just saw the passion from the community. The Pit means a lot to people and we understand that and don't take it lightly. So, there has been a lot of good basketball in here", said UNM Men's Basketball Head Coach Richard Pitino. "This arena means a lot to me because when I first played here it was super loud and the fans were like amazing and stuff. So, it means a lot to me to be able to play in the Pit and yeah, I am looking forward to the game", said UNM Center Nelly Junior Joseph. The Lobos will host former UNM Coaches, Steve Alford and Craig Neal as the Nevada Wolfpack play inside the Pit on Friday night at 9 p.m. Nevada comes into this match-up riding a 3-game losing skid against Mountain West teams. Richard Pitino understands that his team must be prepared for a very determined Nevada team. "Their record shows oh and three, but if you look at all three games they had a shot to win at Wyoming, it's been two one-possession losses in league and one two-possession loss. You know, Davidson is an all-conference player, they added some good players in the portal, you know got some good guys back, and they are going to be eager for a win. You don't look at the record because although they are oh and three, that could easily be tree and oh", said Pitino. The (11-3, 3-0 MW) Lobos host (8-6, 0-3 MW) Nevada at 9 p.m. on Friday. That game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1. The UNM Women's Basketball team is coming off of a conference victory on Wednesday. UNM is now 9-6 overall on the season and 2-0 in Mountain West play. A big reason for Wednesday's 70-62 win over Nevada, was Albuquerque native and UNM senior Viane Cumber. Cumber helped close out the victory by putting up 10 of her 17 points in the 4th quarter. Cumber also became the program's new record holder for consecutive free throws made, as she went 6-6 on Wednesday which now brings her total to 40-consecutive made free throws. Cumber played such a huge role in the victory and she was able to do it, while not feeling 100 percent healthy. "Yeah, V has not been good the last couple of days. I am not going to get into details, but she hasn't practiced, she hasn't done anything, but she is going to make sure that she is ready to go. Last year, down in Cancun, she threw up all night and didn't sleep a wink and scored 24 the next afternoon. So, V is a ball player", said UNM Women's Basketball Head Coach Mike Bradbury. The Lobos Women's Basketball team will be back in action on the road on Saturday, playing San Diego State at 2 p.m. Mario Moccia has been relieved of his duties as the Athletic Director at New Mexico State University, with University President Valerio Ferme saying in a statement: “After carefully reviewing the recent report issued by the New Mexico Department of Justice, I felt we needed a fresh start in our athletics program." Amber Burdge, NMSU’s deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership, has been promoted to the role of acting athletics director. “I have utter confidence in Dr. Burdge’s ability to lead our Athletic Department, and look forward to working with her in the coming months," said Ferme. Burdge had served as NMSU’s deputy athletic director for strategic initiatives and leadership, as well as the senior woman administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator for the athletics department.