New Mexico holds off Utah State rally
The Aggies were out-rebounded 36-22 and shot 55 percent from the free-throw line as the New Mexico Lobos stole a 66-60 win in Logan, Utah.
“It’s very disappointing,” said 17-year head coach Stew Morrill who will retire at the end of the season. “The biggest thing that jumps out at you was our inability to rebound and missing free throw after free throw. It’s our inexperience showing up.”
Despite a career-high 22 points from sophomore Jalen Moore and 18 for freshman Julion Pearre the Aggies couldn’t overcome the Lobos second half attack. Freshman forward David Collette was in foul trouble all night and only played 20 minutes of the game.
Utah State trailed by three at the half, New Mexico came out strong and took a nine point lead with just under 12 minutes to play. Behind a strong-shooting Moore USU came back to take the lead 58-57 with 2:59 to play.
“We we’re right there. It’s just unfortunate what happened,” Morrill said.
With under two minutes to go in the game, Collette received his fifth foul on a blocked shot attempt. He argued with the refs and also received a technical foul giving New Mexico four foul shots. They hit all four to gain a 62-58 advantage and wouldn’t trail again.
“The ref called a foul. That’s a huge part in the game,” Moore said. “It shouldn’t have come down to that. Free throws and rebounds would have helped us be up at that point.”
New Mexico’s Hugh Greenwood hit six 3-pointers, one as the shot clock expired with 36 seconds to play that gave UNM a five point lead. Greenwood led New Mexico and finished with 22 points.
“That’s what he does,” Morrill said. “He’s been struggling shooting the ball because people have been taking it away but we didn’t take it away very well.”
Deshawn Delaney was another key player for New Mexico. He had five offensive rebounds and 15 points.
New Mexico head coach Craig Neal said his team was very fortunate to win the game despite going on a five-minute scoring drought and letting Utah State come back in the second half.
“Towards the end we weren’t executing very well,” Pearre. “We had it. It was in our fingertips and we let it slip away.”
– Kalen Taylor
Twitter: @kalen_taylor