Freshman year, 2007–2008 Gary started the last 28 games as the team's point guard, the most starts at from a freshman at point guard in nearly ten years. Gary led the
Lobos in assists (as well as being eighth in the
Mountain West Conference and first among all MWC newcomers) and was second on the team in steals. On February 13, 2008, he scored 12 points in a 73–63 win at
San Diego State. Due to his freshman success, CollegeHoops.net named Gary and honorable mention High-Major All-Freshman after helping the
J. R. Giddens-led team to a 24–9 record, including an NIT berth.
Sophomore year, 2008–2009 After a year as the team's starting point guard, Gary's role was more defined as he began flourishing in his new role, being the only player to start every game. He was second in the Mountain West Conference in assists, fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio, and ninth in steals. Gary was also instrumental in a late season victory against
Colorado State, putting up 18 points (all after halftime), eight assists, and four rebounds in an 81–79 double-overtime win.
Junior year, 2009–2010 After the departure of Faris, Toppert and Danridge, the burden of leading the New Mexico team to success fell on the shoulders of Roman Martinez,
Darington Hobson, and Gary. They posted a 12-game winning streak in which Gary posted five games scoring double figures, including a 21-point, 4-assist, 4-rebound game at
San Diego on December 9. Despite their preseason fifth-place rank in the Mountain West Conference, the Lobos won 14 straight in the conference, with Gary averaging 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds during the streak, including 23 points or greater in three games (
BYU twice and Colorado State).
Senior Year, 2010–2011 The 2010-2011 Lobos returned few upperclassmen, including only one senior (Gary) and three juniors. Gary, a preseason all-conference member, led the Lobos in points and assists. Gary had a double-double (14 points and 10 assists) against then-ranked No. 9 BYU in an 86–77 win in
The Pit on January 30, 2011.
Steve Alford said after the game: “In the end, it’s that one guy again, Dairese Gary. He plays all 40 minutes, he’s guarding the best player (Fredette) on the other team. This is what Dairese has done his entire career, and we’re seeing a very special player come into the last half of his (final season).” Gary followed that performance by posting career-highs in points in back-to-back games against
UNLV and
TCU, putting up 26 and 32 points, respectively. Like his junior year, Gary was honored by being named first-team all-Mountain West and part of the all-defensive team in the Mountain West. However, in a semifinals game in a
Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament game against BYU, Gary tore his ACL, ending his collegiate career. He averaged 14.1 points per game. Gary is 13th in career scoring at New Mexico with 1,458 points, and is 4th in assists with 564. ==Professional career==