NMSU Basketball Defeats New Mexico 62-53 in The Pit
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Nov. 16)-The New Mexico State men’s basketball team utilized a strong defensive effort to defeat in-state rival New Mexico, 62-53. This was the first win for the Aggies (2-0) in The Pit since Dec. 15, 2002.
Senior forward Wendell McKines led the way with 14 second-half points and a game-high nine rebounds. Junior forward Bandja Sy added 12 points including a late three-point play and critical blocked shot in the final 30 seconds of the game. Senior center Hamidu Rahman provided 10 points and five rebounds.
In the second half, NM State held the Lobos to 19 percent shooting (4-of-21), while the Aggies shot 60 percent (12-of-20). There were six ties and five lead changes in second half.
Following a timeout at 8:24, the Aggies scored four straight points with a McKines jumper and freshman guard Daniel Mullings layup to take a 50-45 lead, which the team didn’t give up.
With the Aggies up two, 55-53, senior guard Hernst Laroche hit two free throws with 54 seconds left. The defense held strong and Sy blocked a 3-pointer that lead to a floater and foul to extend the lead to 60-53 with 21 seconds left.
The Aggies started the second half strong and scored the first five points to even the game at 31-31 on a on junior forward Tyrone Watson fast break layup that forced UNM to take a timeout at 18:09.
The first half was a defensive struggle, and the Aggies trailed the Lobos, 31-26. NM State forced nine turnovers. Offensively, Rahman and Sy had seven points each. Watson added six points, while McKines had a game-high five rebounds.
Early in the first half, UNM had a 7-3 lead after a 3-point play but the Aggies quieted the crowd and held the Lobos scoreless for more than six minutes.
The Aggies steadily built a 5-point lead, 17-12, on a Watson 3-pointer and layup from sophomore center Tshilidzi Nephawe at the 10:48 mark. UNM responded with a rally for a 27-18 lead, but NM State answered with a Sy 3-pointer to cut the deficit to six, 27-21.
The Aggies return to Las Cruces for their home opener against I-10 rival UTEP, Saturday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. inside the Pan American Center. NM State is unveiling a new floor prior to the game and doors open at 4 p.m. for the 4:30 p.m. reveal.
Source: NMSU Athletics
