Las Cruces, NM (Sports Network) - Sim Bhullar supplied 20 points as the New
Mexico State Aggies extended their winning streak to 10 with a 76-74
victory over the Idaho Vandals at the Pan American Center in a Western
Athletic Conference matchup.
Bhullar was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field for the Aggies (16-8, 10-2 WAC).
Renaldo Dixon and Terrel de Rouen scored 12 points each while all three
players grabbed five rebounds a piece. Bandja Sy led all players on the
boards, pulling down 15 rebounds with his nine points.
Idaho's (9-13, 5-7) offense was fueled by a 26-point performance from Kyle
Barone and a 21-point performance from Connor Hill. Barone was 10-of-19 from
the field while Hill was 6-of-9. Hill was 3-of-4 from 3-point range while Mike
McChristian was 2-of-4, with 12 points. The Vandals have lost six of their
last nine games.
The Vandals held a six-point lead with 6:27 left before the intermission, but
let it slip away and went into the intermission trailing, 36-35. Idaho was
behind at halftime despite shooting 50.0 percent from the field and knocking
down 4-of-7 3-point attempts in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half, the Aggies shot 61.5 percent from the field to outscore
the Vandals, 40-39. Daniel Mullings hit two free-throws with 14 seconds
remaining to put New Mexico State on top 76-74 and the Aggies were able to
hold off after Idaho's Wendell Faines and Mansa Habeeb, who each missed
potential game-tying shots in the final seconds.
The Aggies outrebounded the Vandals, 32-28, and scored 12 second chance points
compared to Idaho's two.
GAME NOTES:
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