Thursday night time was all about making historical past within the Pan American Heart for the New Mexico State basketball crew.
New Mexico State rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit to stun Western Kentucky, 72-70, in entrance of 5,243 followers Thursday night time on the Pan American Heart in Convention USA males’s basketball motion.
The 23-point comeback is the biggest in Pan American Heart historical past and ranks because the 22nd largest second half comeback in Division I school basketball historical past.
Guard Femi Odukale scored a layup with 4 seconds left for the game-winning basket. After lacking a free throw after being fouled on the basket, the Hilltoppers drove down the court docket and Don McHenry’s jumper from contained in the free throw line fell quick to finish the sport.
The Aggies are Eight-10 total and 2-1 in league play, whereas Western Kentucky is 13-5 total and 2-2 in league play. The Aggies are Eight-1 at house after the win.
The 2 groups met for the primary time since 2005.
Superlative Aggies
The Aggies made 9 of 14 from Three-point vary within the second half and 16 of 32 discipline objectives total. New Mexico State bench scored 52 factors, together with 19 factors from guard Tanahj Pettway and 18 factors from guard Jaden Harris.
Pettway made 4 Three-pointers and Harris made 4 Three-pointers. New Mexico State guard Robert Carpenter was additionally key within the second half with three consecutive factors.
New Mexico State additionally dedicated simply 11 turnovers and compelled 18. Odukale was strong as effectively with 11 factors and 6 assists, and the Aggies gave up simply eight second-chance factors and 7 rebounds offensive.
Hilltoppers sturdy first half
The Hilltoppers took a 37-27 halftime lead and trailed simply as soon as, 2-Zero. Western Kentucky led 18-6 early earlier than NMSU rallied to inside a degree twice, 19-18 and 21-20.
However WKU completed the primary half sturdy to take a 10-point lead. New Mexico State made simply 10 of 36 from the sphere and was outrebounded 25-17.
Guard Khristian Lander scored 13 of his 18 factors for the Hilltoppers, together with a jumper on the halftime buzzer. The Aggies obtained 10 factors from Pettway, together with a pair of Three-pointers.
What the successful gamers mentioned
“I simply needed to include the power and assist our crew,” Pettway mentioned. “We caught with it, made some key pictures and caught collectively. We simply began believing in one another.”
Harris added: “Robert hit some large pictures within the second half to assist us get again into the sport. I advised him to keep it up and good issues occurred.”
What the successful coach mentioned
“Jaden and Tanahj and our crowd had been the rationale we received,” first-year NMSU coach Jason Hooten mentioned. “Within the final 5 minutes of the sport, our crowd made the distinction. We began to play tougher within the final 15 minutes of the sport. We confirmed what we’re able to in that point.”
It follows
The Aggies are again at house Saturday towards Center Tennessee and 1-10 Western Kentucky heads East to face UTEP additionally Saturday. UTEP defeated Center Tennessee, 73-59, Thursday night time in El Paso.
Extra: NMSU sports activities informationBreakdown: NMSU’s first-year basketball program appears to be like forward to UTEP with 10-point win
Felix F. Chavez might be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X (previously Twitter)