Mullings Posts Triple-Double, Aggies Crush Hawaii
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Feb. 23)-Freshman guard Daniel Mullings recorded the New Mexico State men’s basketball team’s first triple-double in school history in 20 years with a 115-73 rout of Hawai’i.
Mullings had a career-high night with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, which is the first triple-double since 1992 when William Benjamin achieved the feat.
The Aggies (21-8, 8-3) set season highs in points (115), which is the most scored since the 1996-97 season, and assists (26) and tied the season-best marks for field goal percentage (60.3, 41-of-68) and field goals made (41).
NM State had six players in double-digits with redshirt senior forward Wendell McKines adding 20 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Hernst Laroche finished with 16 points and a season-high eight assists. Junior forwards Tyrone Watson and Bandja Sy supplied 12 points each, while sophomore center Tshilidzi Nephawe chipped in 10 points.
With two blocked shots, senior center Hamidu Rahman is tied for second all-time at NM State in career rejections with 124. He also added eight points.
The Aggies took a 21-point lead into halftime, 52-31, following a floater from Laroche at the end of the first half. This was the Aggies second-best first half performance of the season with 52 points thanks to a 59.4 field goal percentage (19-of-32).
Mullings led all scorers with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting. He also added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Laroche had nine points after the last second basket. McKines and Watson both added eight points.
Halfway through the first half, the Aggies utilized a 10-2 run to take a 14-point lead, 36-22, with 6:59 to play. Laroche began the rally with a pair of free throws. Mullings followed with a layup and Rahman helped the cause with a 3-point play. Laroche added a jumper in the stretch and Nephawe concluded the run with two free throws.
The Aggies never trailed in the game, and in the second half NM State scored a season-high 63 points.
NM State hosts San Jose State, Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the home finale with both the US Bank/NM State Athletics Hall of Fame night and senior night ceremonies.
Source: NMSU Athletics
