Men’s Hoops: NMSU beats UTEP for the second time in less than a week

The NMSU men’s basketball team defeated UTEP for the second time in five days Thursday night.

The Aggies won by a final of 80-60 at the Don Haskins Center Thursday, less than a week after they beat UTEP at home, 72-63.

It is the seventh consecutive win for the Aggies in the series.

UTEP kept the game close early in the first half. Omega Harris connected on a three to give UTEP a 14-11 lead, but NMSU would close the first half on a 26-9 run to take a 14-point advantage at the break.

The lead would then balloon to 23 points midway through the second half, effectively putting the game out of reach.

NMSU point guard A.J. Harris scored 18 points and connected on seven of his eight shots from the field.

NMSU’s Zach Lofton, who entered the night averaging more than 24 points per game, was held to a season-low six points. But it didn’t matter as four other Aggies scored in double figures.

UTEP did not have any player reach double figures in scoring, although four different Miners had nine points.

NMSU moves to 5-1 on the season with the win while UTEP drops to 1-6.

The Miners have another home game on Saturday. They’ll meet the New Mexico Lobos at 7 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center.

Meanwhile, NMSU will host Prairie View A&M on Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Aggies are now 3-0 on the season in rivalry games, having beaten UTEP twice to go along with a win over UNM earlier in November.