New Mexico St defeats Western KY 80-64

Western Kentucky edges New Mexico State in a Conference Battle

The Pan American Center was electric last night as the New Mexico State Aggies hosted their conference rivals, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The home team came out strong, taking an early 46-28 lead into halftime and never looking back. In a convincing 80-64 win, the Aggies proved that they are more than capable of competing with the top teams in the conference.

The turning point of the game came at the break, as New Mexico State's Jemel Jones led his team on a 18-0 run to build their lead to 46-28. The Hilltoppers struggled to find their rhythm, committing several turnovers and missing crucial shots. Meanwhile, Jones was unstoppable from beyond the arc, knocking down three of five three-point attempts for 24 points.

In the second half, Western Kentucky made a few adjustments but couldn't overcome the deficit. Armelo Boone led the way with 13 points, but it wasn't enough to bring his team back into contention. The Hilltoppers' biggest lead came when New Mexico State's Julius Mims tied the game at 28-28, only for the Aggies to respond with a 10-0 run.

New Mexico State's balanced attack was on full display, as five players scored in double figures. Gabe Pickens chipped in six points and seven assists, while Julius Mims added eight rebounds and eight points. The Aggies' defense also held strong, holding Western Kentucky to just 31% shooting from the field.

The Hilltoppers' struggles were evident on both ends of the floor. Terrion Murdix led the team with four assists but was outdone by New Mexico State's Pickens in that category. Armelo Boone and Terrion Murdix combined for 28 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Aggies' balanced attack.

The win puts New Mexico State in a strong position in conference play, while Western Kentucky will need to regroup and refocus if they want to make a run at the top of the standings.