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No. 17 New Mexico handles New Mexico State

Dec 16, 2012 - 6:07 AM Albuquerque, NM (Sports Network) - Kendall Williams stuffed the stat sheet on Saturday, netting 15 points to go with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals as No. 17 New Mexico rolled to a 73-58 win over New Mexico State at The Pit.

Alex Kirk also netted 15 points while ripping down six rebounds, while Chad Adams registered a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards for the Lobos (11-0). Tony Snell contributed 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the victory.

"(I am) extremely pleased with our basketball team," New Mexico coach Steve Alford said. "I thought our energy was really good. I thought our concentration was outstanding. And we did the things that we've been doing. We out-rebounded a really good team. We took care of the basketball and we got to the free-throw line. And that's what's we've been doing through this stretch. And for them to continue that after a week off is pleasing."

Daniel Mullings scored a team-high 14 points on 5-of-10 from the floor for the Aggies (5-5), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Sim Bhullar and Terrel de Rouen contributed nine points apiece, while Tyrone Watson pulled down 11 rebounds in the setback.

"They threw the first punch tonight and it was clear that they were the aggressor," Aggies coach Marvin Menzies said. "They just out-toughed us tonight on the glass, which is an area that we take a lot of pride in."

The game remained close early, as a layup by Bhullar pulled New Mexico State within 9-6, but the Lobos responded with a 7-2 spurt capped by a Cameron Bairstow slam to build a 16-8 advantage with just over 12 minutes to play in the opening half.

The Aggies got right back in the game, though, as a trey from the right corner by De Rouen and an alley-oop flush by Bandja Sy cut the deficit to 17-14 with 9:22 to play.

However, the Lobos used an 11-2 surge to build the lead back to 28-16 with 5 1/2 minutes on the first-half clock. Adams buried a 3-pointer a few minutes later to make it 38-26 New Mexico, and the Lobos led 39-32 at the break.

Mullings put home a layup early in the second half and Watson followed with a pair of free throws to bring the visitors within 43-36, but the Lobos quickly regained a double-digit lead and New Mexico State never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Game Notes

The Lobos lead the all-time series between the two programs by a count of 114-95. The two sides will play again on Dec. 19 ...New Mexico won the rebounding battle by a 37-33 margin and blocked 11 shots as a team ... The Lobos shot 42.6 percent from the floor while holding the Aggies to 32.8 percent and just 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.