New Mexico Uses Strong Second Half to Beat San Jose State 92-60
New Mexico moves to 5-7 in conference, San Jose State drops to 0-11
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San Jose State hung tight for most of the first half
Keith McGee led New Mexico (5-7 MW), reaching 20 points for the second time this season and the Lobos defeated San Jose State (0-11 MW) 92-60.
The game was back and forth, including 11 lead changes and and a 30-30 tie before the Lobos finished on a 15-2 run in the final five minutes of the first half.
Momentum continued to favor the Lobos in the second half, as the they came out strong offensively, rattling on a 20-4 run in the first 4 minutes and 44 seconds of the half before the Spartans were able to score back-to-back baskets.
But it was all Lobos by that point, as San Jose State struggled to find its offensive rhythm, while New Mexico found ways to continue to score from distance, score inside and especially in transition, finishing with 35 fast-break points to 2 for the Spartans.
Notably, New Mexico assisted on 17 of their 30 made baskets, surpassing their season average of 13.6 assists per game.
On the other end of things, both teams also took care of the ball well in the contest, as the Spartans only turned the ball over 11 times while the Lobos turned the ball over 10 times. These two teams are last in the mountain west in turnovers, turning the ball over at a combined rate of 31.7 times per game.
Frustrations were apparent in the game for the Spartans, and tensions reached a ceiling when a New Mexico fan reportedly heckled San Jose State’s Michael Steadman.
With his team down 24, Steadman was escorted to the locker room, while the fan was escorted out of the building.
Stat Stuffers:
New Mexico: Keith McGee (20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Corey Manigault (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal), Vance Jackson (9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists)
San Jose State: Noah Baumann (10 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds), Craig LeCesne (8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block), Ashtin Chastain (7 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal)
Up next:
Both teams play their next contest on their home courts with New Mexico hosting Fresno State in Albuquerque and San Jose State hosting UNLV.
