Dec. 19, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -J.R. Giddens scored 18 points and New Mexico hit 12 3-pointers in a 76-69 win over Charleston Southern in a second round game of the Las Vegas Classic on Tuesday night.
New Mexico (8-2) won its third straight and plays No. 8 Wichita State (9-0) Friday night in Las Vegas.
Charleston Southern (5-6) had four players in double figures, led by guard Chris Moore with 18 points. Giedrius Knysas scored 11 and Dwayne Jackson and Donnell Covington each scored 15 points. Covington, a guard, also had 12 assists and 7 rebounds.
Jackson gave the Buccaneers their only lead of the game with a 3-pointer in the opening minute. New Mexico scored the next eight points on back-to-back 3-pointers by Jamaal Smith, both off assists from Giddens, and on a Giddens layup on a drive through the lane.
New Mexico hit its first five 3s and 8 of its first 10 shots.
The Lobos and Buccaneers traded 3-pointers through much of the game and combined for 23 3s. At one point in the second half, six of the seven baskets scored were 3-pointers.
Five New Mexico players had at least two 3s, with Chad Toppert hitting four. New Mexico got 30 points from its reserves.
Tony Danridge scored 13 points and Toppert had 12 for New Mexico.
Charleston Southern got within 53-48 on a layup by Covington with 13 minutes left but the Lobos then scored seven straight points on 3-pointers by Danridge and Darren Prentice and a free throw by Daniel Faris.