Collins Jr. powers Utah State past New Mexico, clinches outright Mountain West title

Senior guard MJ Collins Jr. scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half as Utah State Men’s Basketball rallied past New Mexico 94-90 on Senior Day at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, securing the Aggies the outright Mountain West regular-season championship.

Utah State — 25-6, 15-5 MW — closed the regular season by winning the league outright for just the second time since joining the conference, capping an emotional Senior Day in front of a loud Spectrum crowd.

“Not too many people are able to say that they won anything, especially not in college,” Collins Jr. said. “With this group of guys and this coaching staff, I’m fortunate to say that I’m a champion.”

The Aggies needed every bit of Collins Jr.’s production to fend off a New Mexico team that pushed the pace all night.

Collins finished with 27 points, six rebounds and four 3-pointers, going 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and delivering one big shot after another in the second half.

His surge began after halftime, when Utah State trailed 43-42 following a late New Mexico run.

Collins Jr. responded immediately, hitting a corner three off a kickout from Drake Allen before adding another triple minutes later to give Utah State a six-point lead.

Later, with the Lobos closing the gap again, he buried back-to-back threes — one after a pump fake and sidestep in the corner — that sent the Spectrum crowd into a frenzy.

“I was very determined,” Collins Jr. said. “Coach cussed me and Mason [Falslev] out going up the tunnel, so it kind of lit a fire up inside of me. I told the team last week that it starts with me and I wouldn’t let them down.”

Utah State appeared in control early.

The Aggies opened the game on a 10-2 run, fueled by aggressive defense and efficient offense. Allen scored the first basket of the game on a drive to the rim, and Collins Jr. followed with an acrobatic floater through contact.

Utah State’s defense forced consecutive New Mexico turnovers, while threes from Mason Falslev and Collins jr. helped stretch the lead to double digits.

At one point the Aggies led 22-10 and looked firmly in command.

But New Mexico’s first-year star Jake Hall kept the Lobos alive. Hall drilled difficult contested shots and eventually piled up 19 first-half points, including several deep threes.

New Mexico closed the half on a 7-0 run and took its first lead on free throws by Luke Haupt, sending the Lobos to halftime ahead 43-42.

“We started the game and our defense was incredible,” said head coach Jerrod Calhoun. “Then Jake Hall happened. I mean, he just went off. To come in here and make seven threes as a freshman in this environment — he’s the real deal.”

While Collins Jr. delivered the biggest scoring performance, Utah State relied on contributions throughout the lineup.

Allen finished with 14 points, seven assists and two steals, controlling the tempo and hitting key shots when New Mexico made runs.

“MJ carried us in that second half, but we shared the ball and made timely plays,” Calhoun said.

Falslev added 15 points and four assists, while forward Karson Templin provided a crucial spark with 15 points and five rebounds, including a 3-pointer and an and-one play that helped stabilize Utah State’s lead midway through the second half.

Despite being undersized in the frontcourt, the Aggies outscored New Mexico 34-28 in the paint, repeatedly attacking the rim off drives and cuts.

Templin also played a key role defensively, altering multiple shots around the basket and limiting New Mexico’s interior scoring despite the Lobos grabbing 14 offensive rebounds.

New Mexico never fully went away.

The Lobos cut Utah State’s lead to three with 30 seconds remaining after Tajavis Miller stole the ball and drained a 3-pointer.

But Utah State answered at the free-throw line.

Collins Jr., Kolby King and Zach Keller combined to make key late free throws to keep New Mexico at bay, sealing the victory with Collins Jr.’s final two free throws with three seconds left.

Utah State finished 30-for-36 at the free-throw line, a difference Calhoun said was decisive.

“The difference tonight was the free-throw line,” he said. “Our guys really wanted it.”

As the final buzzer sounded, Utah State players cut down the nets and celebrated a season-long goal achieved.

Calhoun emphasized the significance of the accomplishment, noting Utah State entered the season without the financial resources of several conference rivals.

“To be fourth or fifth in revenue share and still win the league — it shows the buy-in of our players,” he said. “These guys stayed the course through a lot of ups and downs.”

For Collins Jr., the moment carried special meaning on Senior Day.

“My family sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position,” he said. “Winning the championship — that’s number one for me. That goes down in the books forever.”

With the regular-season title secured, Utah State now turns its focus to postseason play.

The Aggies will head to Las Vegas next week for the Mountain West tournament before preparing for what Calhoun expects will be an NCAA tournament appearance.

“We’ve solidified ourselves as an NCAA tournament team,” he said. “Now you’re playing for seeding. We’ve got two tournaments left — the Mountain West and the NCAA tournament — so why not give it your all?”

For Collins Jr., the mission is simple.

“We want two of these, not one,” he said. “We want two rings.”