LAS CRUCES, N.M. — On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the New Mexico State Aggies hosted the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys at the Pan American Center, defeating them 74-58.
The game opened with an Anthony Wrzeszcz three-pointer for NMSU, followed by a Robert Dix jumper for NM Highlands. Two turnovers and a couple fouls pushed the next score to the 17:38 mark, when Gabe Pickens made both free throws to expand the Aggie lead to 5-2. The NMSU defense would then force a turnover, but give it right back.
After this, the Cowboys rattled off seven straight points to gain a 9-5 lead. The score would remain the same until Augustine Ekwe made a put back shot to end the Aggies 4:23 drought. Elijah Elliot later hit a three-point jumper to give NMSU a 10-9 lead.
NM Highlands junior guard Nikk Williams made a layup however to go back up 11-10. The scoring struggles would remain much of the first half, as no one scored until Jayland Randall knocked down both free throws to again give the Aggies the lead once again. Dix then tied the game for the Cowboys at 12, when he split his free throws at the 8:04 mark in the first half.
The two teams would continue to go back and forth until NMSU scored on three straight possessions to go up 20-15 at the 4:52 mark in the first half. The Aggies held this lead until halftime, going up 29-24.
The NMSU lead would blossom to 13 before a Ibrahima Sacko dunk ended their run, sparking their own run of three consecutive buckets, until Ekwe made another layup.
Sacko committed to the Aggies in July after spending last season with the University of New Mexico. Shortly after, he entered the transfer portal again and ended up with the Cowboys.
Despite their offensive struggles, NMSU maintained the lead the rest of the game. Most of both teams offense came from free throws until Wrzeszcz made back-to-back three-pointers to expand the Aggies lead to 61-46. The teams then went back to exchanging free throws.
Wrzeszcz put the finishing touches on the game with a slam dunk with 34 seconds left to put the Aggies up 74-55. NM Highlands senior guard Marcus Pierce hit a late three to make the final score 74-58.
The Aggies will take on the University of New Mexico Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Pan American Center.
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