Tulsa defeats New Mexico St 70-83
Tulsa Outlasts New Mexico St in Thrilling 83-70 Victory
The Comerica Center was electric on Saturday night as Tulsa, the visiting team, edged out host New Mexico State 83-70 in a non-conference matchup that saw both teams display high-flying offense.
Trailing by just two points at halftime, Tulsa's bench erupted in the second half, outscoring the Aggies' reserves 23-4 to take control of the game. The Golden Hurricane's 49-27 lead at the break was wiped out quickly as New Mexico State stormed back with a 17-6 run that tied the contest at 54-54 midway through the second half.
However, Tulsa's Tylen Riley was unstoppable from beyond the arc, connecting on 4-of-5 three-point attempts to fuel a 15-2 surge that put his team up by double digits. The senior guard finished with 29 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds, leading all scorers in the game.
Riley's clutch shooting was matched by New Mexico State's Julius Mims, who scored 16 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and sparked a second-half rally that saw his team within 2 points late in the fourth quarter. However, Tulsa's Romad Dean outmuscled Mims for crucial rebounds, allowing the Golden Hurricane to close out the game on a 7-0 run.
The Aggies' turnover woes ultimately proved costly, as they committed 16 errors against Tulsa's stingy defense, which held them to just 16 assists and forced 11 turnovers. New Mexico State's advanced statistics showed that they struggled to contain Tulsa's fast break attack, allowing the Golden Hurricane to score an impressive 12 points in transition.
The win propels Tulsa to 7-3 on the season, while New Mexico State falls to 4-6. The loss stings for the Aggies, who were expected to be a contender in the Conference USA West division, but will look to bounce back against a tough schedule that includes matchups against Boise State and UTSA.
The victory is Tulsa's second over the Aggies under head coach Frank Haith, who has led the Golden Hurricane to 4 consecutive non-conference victories. The win also marks the fifth time this season that Tulsa has outscored its opponents by double digits.
In a game that saw both teams display their range, it was ultimately Tulsa's depth and balance that proved decisive. With five players in double figures, including Riley's 29 points, the Golden Hurricane demonstrated its ability to score from multiple levels and overcome adversity when needed most.
As the Comerica Center crowd celebrated the end of a hard-fought contest, one thing was clear: this one was for the ages.