In a tightly contested matchup at the Pan American Center, New Mexico State Aggies emerged victorious over the UTEP Miners, 67-63, in a game that was decided by a possession or two. The final margin of four points belies the close nature of the contest, as the Miners were unable to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit. New Mexico State Aggies, the higher-ranked team at 171 in the NET, capitalized on its home-court advantage to secure the win.
The Aggies built a commanding 35-25 lead at halftime, but the Miners staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, outscoring New Mexico State 38-32 to close the gap to four points. While UTEP Miners' strong second-half performance kept the game within reach, it ultimately fell short, as New Mexico State's early lead proved insurmountable.
Jemel Jones led New Mexico State's scoring charge with 21 points, converting 8 of his 14 field goal attempts and 3 of his 5 three-point tries. He also contributed on the defensive end with 3 blocks and added 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Jones' efficiency from the field, particularly from beyond the arc, was a key factor in the Aggies' victory.
Jae'Coby Osborne's all-around performance was also pivotal, as he pulled down a team-high 9 rebounds to go along with 12 points. His ability to secure rebounds on both ends of the court helped limit UTEP's second-chance opportunities and allowed the Aggies to maintain possession. Jayland Randall chipped in with 8 points, including 2 three-pointers, but struggled with efficiency from the field, converting just 3 of his 9 attempts.
Jamal West Jr.'s performance was a bright spot for UTEP, but ultimately fell short in the team's bid for a victory. He led the Miners in scoring with 22 points, but his shooting percentages from the field and free-throw line were not enough to propel his team to a win. West Jr.'s 7 rebounds and 2 assists were also notable, but his inability to elevate his teammates' play in crunch time was a key factor in the loss.
Caleb Blackwell's 18 points were largely due to his hot shooting from beyond the arc, where he connected on 4 of 7 three-point attempts. However, his lack of production on the glass and limited defensive impact made it difficult for him to be a more dominant force in the game. Kaseem Watson's 10 rebounds were a bright spot for UTEP, but his inability to contribute more in the scoring department was a missed opportunity for the Miners.
In stark contrast to their season averages, Julius Mims and Elijah Jones struggled to make an impact on the court. Mims, typically a dominant force, saw his production plummet in all categories, with his rebounding and scoring numbers particularly noteworthy in their decline. His normally reliable shooting stroke also deserted him, as he went 0-for-1 from beyond the arc and 2-for-4 overall. Meanwhile, Elijah Jones, who has been a scoring machine this season, was held in check, tallying just 5 points and shooting a relatively poor 40% from the field. His rebounding was a rare bright spot, but his scoring and overall efficiency fell well short of his usual standards.
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Final
While the pre-game prediction held up, the margin of victory was significantly narrower than anticipated, with New Mexico State prevailing by 4 points rather than the projected 9.8. This disparity suggests that the actual contest was more closely contested than initially thought, with neither team able to assert a decisive advantage.
A closer examination of the teams' shooting and rebounding numbers reveals two key factors that contributed to New Mexico State's win. Firstly, the Aggies' 3-point shooting percentage was significantly higher in this game (30.8%) than their season average (34.2%), which provided a crucial boost in a contest where the two teams were evenly matched in terms of two-point field goal percentages. Secondly, New Mexico State's rebounding dominance, particularly on the defensive glass, allowed them to limit UTEP's second-chance opportunities and control the tempo of the game.
New Mexico State's crucial win against UTEP likely adds a Quad 1 victory to its resume, although it will depend on how the NCAA Tournament selection committee weighs this matchup. This could potentially propel the Aggies to a 15-seed or higher, potentially saving them from being a First Four team. Conversely, UTEP's loss drops it to 10-17, with a NET ranking of #265 and a Quad 2 record of 0-4. The Miners' NCAA Tournament prospects are now even more precarious, and a 14-seed or worse appears increasingly likely. In the end, this outcome has effectively sealed UTEP's fate as a bubble team.