In Saturday's action, New Mexico State completed a season-sweep of Utah State and snapped USU's 14-game home winning streak. Hawai'i picked up its first road win in 11 games with a 73-64 win at Boise State. Fresno State defended its home court with a 79-66 win over San Jose State.
New Mexico State 83, Utah State 77
LOGAN, Utah. ?“ Something out of the ordinary happened Saturday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on the campus of Utah State University: the USU Aggies lost a home game. Four Aggies scored in double figures, led by a game-high 24 from red shirt junior Elijah Ingram, and the New Mexico State men?™s basketball team completed the season sweep over Utah State with an 83-77 win in Western Athletic Conference men?™s basketball action.
It was the Utages?™ first loss at home this season and just the 10th loss at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum under head coach Stew Morrill. Utah State, which entered Saturday?™s tilt with the Aggies 109-9 at home under Morrill, had not lost a conference home game in the last seven outings. The Utages are now 59-6 at home in conference contests under Morrill.
With the win, the Aggies improve to 10-12 overall and are now 6-5 in WAC play. NMSU, which entered the season having not beat Utah State in four tries, has now won both meetings this season. The Utages, who are now 11-1 at home this season, are 16-6 overall and 7-4 in league play.
Ingram (East Orange, N.J.), who tied a career high with six three pointers, finished the game 8-for-14 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Aggies continued their hot free throw shooting as they connected on 11-of-14 tries from the charity stripe.
Senior Mike Mitchell (San Antonio, Texas) finished the game with 23 points and was 8-of-12 from the field. Mitchell, who dished out three assists to just one turnover, set a career high with five three pointers on seven attempts. As a team, the Aggies were on fire from long range as NMSU hit 12-of-21 three pointers in the contest.
Red shirt sophomore Tyrone Nelson (Hempstead, Texas), who had just six points in the Aggies?™ win over Utah State Feb. 2 at the Pan American Center, cashed in for 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the victory Saturday. Nelson also dished out a team-high four assists and blocked two shots in the win.
Junior David Fisher (Dallas, Texas), who led all players with a career-high 12 rebounds, recorded his third double-double of the year with 13 points. Fisher, who grabbed six of his 12 rebounds on the offensive glass, was 5-for-12 from the field and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. As a team, the Aggies out-rebounded the Utages 35-29, including a 17-11 advantage on the offensive glass.
Utah State was led in the loss by forward Durrall Peterson?™ 21-point effort. Peterson finished the game 7-for-13 from the field, including 5-for-9 from downtown. Peterson also added seven rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes of action. Forward Nate Harris was also impressive as the senior had 17 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Harris, who grabbed six rebounds, also dished out five assists while having three blocks and three steals.
Hawai'i 73, Boise State 64
BOISE, Idaho - The Hawai'i men's basketball team snapped a 10-game road losing streak with a 73-64 victory over Boise State, Saturday afternoon, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at Taco Bell Arena. The Rainbow Warriors (13-8, 7-4 WAC) also picked up their first road win of the season after dropping their first six.
Forward Julian Sensley scored team-high 22 points to lead four 'Bows in double figures. Guard Matt Lojeski added 16 points and was 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Forward Ahmet Gueye recorded his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds and was a perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field. Guard Deonte Tatum had 13 points, 12 of which in the first half.
BSU (12-11, 5-7) was led by Coby Karl's game-high 26 points. Kareem Lloyd came off the bench and scored 11.
UH also snapped an eight-game WAC road losing streak dating back to last season.
The Broncos scored the first seven points and extended their lead to 19-6. An 11-1 Hawai`i run pulled the 'Bows to within to 20-17. BSU pushed its lead back to nine before UH trimmed the deficit to one (29-28) with 4:12 to play.
UH, which trailed by as many as 13, took its first lead following a Sensley trey with 1:13 left. The 'Bows closed out the period by scoring 10 of the final 12 points to take a 38-34 halftime lead.
The 'Bows kept it going in the second half, pushing their lead to 10 three minutes in. The Broncos pulled to within four but UH answered back and extended the lead back into double figures.
UH led 65-54 after Lojeski's fourth trey. Sensley sealed the victory with his third 3-pointer with 35 seconds left putting the 'Bows ahead by seven.
Fresno State 79, San Jose State 66
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Hector Hernandez recorded career highs with 25 points and four blocks, leading a second-half charge that propelled Fresno State past San Jose State 79-66 Saturday night.
Picking up his 10th career double figure game, Hernandez posted his first career 20-point performance as he also collected career-high marks in 3-pointers (5) and blocks.
Ja'Vance Coleman added 23 points for Fresno State (12-10, 5-6 Western Athletic Conference), helping the Bulldogs snap a two-game losing streak.
He notched his 12th 20-point game of the season and 24th of his career as he stands two points shy of becoming the 34th Bulldog in school history to tally 900 career points.
Alex Elam had 16 points for San Jose State (6-17, 2-8), and Demetrius Brown added 15 points and eight rebounds.
The last time the Bulldogs had two players with 20 or more points in a game happened at home against Utah State on Jan. 7. Quinton Hosley and Coleman each had 25 points in the double overtime WAC victory.
Fresno State broke open a tie game at halftime by outscoring the Spartans 29-12 to begin the second half. Coleman's 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down gave the Bulldogs a 67-50 lead with 9:45 left.