Ags Down Warriors 58-57. Advance To Semis Vs. Nevada

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Tyrone Nelson had 16 points and Shaun Davis scored the game-winning basket on a 3-point play with 2:07 left to lead New Mexico State past Hawaii 58-57 Thursday night in the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

Hawaii’s Julian Sensley had 16 points but missed a 12-footer with 4 seconds left and Matthew Gipson’s shot off the rebound missed as time expired. Nelson grabbed 11 rebounds and Elijah Ingram added 13 points for New Mexico State (16-13), which advances to Friday night’s semifinal against No. 21 Nevada (25-5).

Utah State (22-7) faces Louisiana Tech (20-11) in the other semifinal. Chris Botez had 13 points, Deonte Tatu 12 and Matt Lojeski 10 for the Rainbow Warriors (17-11). Sensley hit an 18-footer to put Hawaii ahead 56-54 with 2:50 left in the game.

But Nelson made a free throw to make it 56-55 then Davis scored on a drive to the basket, was fouled and made the free throw to put the Aggies ahead 58-56 for the first time since early in the second half.

Botez banked in one free throw but missed the second attempt that would have tied the game with 53 seconds left. Mike Mitchell scored seven points for the Aggies on a 12-2 run capped by Ingram’s 3 pointer to open a 23-16 lead 6:17 before the half.

But Hawaii closed the first half with an 11-4 run, including Sensley’s 3-pointer just before the buzzer to pull within 30-26 at the half, and the Rainbow Warriors opened the second half with a 13-2 run that ended with Lojeski’s 3-pointer for a 39-32 lead with 15:11 left in the game.

Ingram answered with a 3-pointer to make it 39-35 with 14 minutes remaining then hit another to pull within 45-44 at 8:59. The teams traded baskets after that until Nelson made two free throws for a 54-54 tie at 3:20.