LUBBOCK, Texas — The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team dropped its fifth straight game on Wednesday night as the Utah State Aggies continued their win streak, putting together an 18-0 run in the final minutes of the game for a commanding 77-45 victory.
The Lobos (3-5, 0-5 MW) were led for the sixth time this season in scoring by senior Makuach Maluach who was the only Lobo to register double figures with 10 points. He also led UNM in rebounds with five.
Utah State (8-3, 5-0 MW) collected its seventh straight victory on the night and remained undefeated in Mountain West play. The Aggies were led by three players in double figures including Neemias Queta who scored 18 points, going 9-for-10 from the field, while posting a team-best six boards.
Both teams started out strong on defense, neither allowing the other to score until the 16:48 mark when Utah State registered its first points for a 2-0 lead. The Aggies were up 4-0 before junior Rod Brown scored the first Lobo points at the 15:45 mark on a pair of free throws to again make it a two-point game.
UNM went on a 9-0 run shortly thereafter when sophomore Jeremiah Francis III sparked back-to-back-to-back Lobo three pointers. He was followed by a pair from behind the arc from senior Keith McGee and the duo combined for nine points in just 1:38 to take an 11-6 lead at the 13:15 mark.
The five-point lead marked the largest of the night for UNM as Utah State immediately responded with a 5-0 run that tied the score at 11-11. The Aggies didn’t stop there.
The 5-0 run evolved into a 35-7 run to close out the half with New Mexico trailing by 23 points (41-18).
The Lobos matched the Aggies for three quarters of the second half but could not make headway on the deficit as Utah State led by 24 points with 5:11 left. Utah State finished with an 18-0 run, ended by a pair of free throws by Lobo freshman Javonté Johnson with 26 seconds left.
The Lobos were outshot on the night 49.1-26.8 percent from the floor and a much more narrow 25.0-23.8 percent from behind the arc. Utah State, which has outrebounded all of its opponents so far this season, outrebounded the Lobos 41-29.
Utah State dominated the paint with 46 points to UNM’s 12.
After a day of rest and some brief time to regroup, the teams are scheduled to rematch on Friday, Jan. 8 in Lubbock, Texas at 7 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. CT. Fans will be able to watch the game on FS1.