New Mexico State Beats UTEP 89-73 in Home Opener

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Nov. 19)-The New Mexico State men’s basketball team ended rivalry week with an 89-73 win over I-10 rival UTEP. The Aggies improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

Redshirt senior forward Wendell McKines scored a career-high 23 points along with 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Senior guard Hernst Laroche, sophomore guard Christian Kabongo and junior forward Bandja Sy contributed 15 points each while sophomore center Tshilidzi Nephawe added 12.

The Aggies posted a 42-38 halftime lead. McKines had a game-high 11 points and six rebounds. Laroche added nine points, while Kabongo and Sy aided the offense with eight points each.

NM State shot 38.7 percent from the field but 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from the 3-point line thanks to a pair of triples from Sy and Kabongo. The Aggies were solid from the free-throw line with a 70.6 free throw percentage (12-of -17) in the first 20 minutes of action.

The Aggies continued the strong second half trend and built a 22-point lead midway through the period on a 3-pointer from Sy at 11:48. NM State improved its shooting percentages in the second half with a 51.9 field goal percentage (14-of-27), 60 3-point field goal percentage (3-of-5) and 72.7 free throw percentage (16-of-22).

The Aggies head to Anchorage, Alaska, for the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, Nov. 24-26. NM State meets Central Michigan, Thursday, Nov. 24, at 8:30 p.m. and then UC Irvine or Southern Mississippi, Friday, Nov. 25. The tournament concludes Saturday, Nov. 26.

Source: NMSU Athletics