• Recap
• Bleachers

Utah State survives New Mexico State

Mar 3, 2011 - 6:37 AM Las Cruces, NM (Sports Network) - Brockeith Pane scored 12 points, including two key free throws with approximately 15 seconds to play, leading No. 25 Utah State to a narrow 58-54 victory over New Mexico State.

Tai Wesley added 11 points and six rebounds, while Nate Bendall and Tyler Newbold each added 10 points for Utah State (27-3, 14-1 WAC), which has won five straight since the stunning loss at Idaho on February 9th.

Troy Gillenwater led New Mexico State with 17 points. Tshilidzi Nephawe and Hernst Laroche each donated 10 points for New Mexico State (14-16, 8-7), which has dropped four in a row.

The teams traded blows in the early stages of the first half with Wesley's layup giving the visitors a 25-20 lead. Utah State took a 27-21 edge in the locker room, and extended the margin to 31-22 on Bendall's jumper just over two minutes into the second half.

New Mexico State suddenly caught fire, triggering a 15-5 surge in just over eight minutes. Gordo Castillo drained consecutive treys in the latter stages of the burst and Tyrone Watson's layup gave New Mexico State the lead, 37-36.

Gillenwater's two free throws moments later increased the lead to 43-38 with just over 7 1/2 minutes to go. New Mexico State still had the lead at 49-47 on Laroche's layup with just over 4 1/2 minutes left, but Utah State scored the next nine points, as New Mexico State went nearly three minutes without a point. Wesley's layup and Newbold's trey made the score 56-49 with just over two minutes on the clock.

Gillenwater's three-point play lowered the deficit to 56-52, and Nephawe's slam with 23 ticks left narrowed the margin to two. Pane was fouled with about 15 seconds on the clock, and he calmly sank both for a two-possession game. Christian Kabongo missed a three-pointer on the other end, and Utah State held on for the victory.

Game Notes

Castillo scored nine points on three treys in defeat...Nephawe grabbed 10 boards for New Mexico State...Utah State leads the all-time series, 35-27.