LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State Aggies scored the first 10 points of the game and never looked back in defeating Western New Mexico 80-39 in exhibition action Monday night at the Pan American Center.
 
The Mustangs, from the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the game. Meanwhile the Aggies went on a 22-3 run in the game's first nine-plus minutes.
 
NM State led 43-22 at the half and substituted freely to get experience for the members of this Aggie squad that does not have a senior on it.
 
But the real story of this game had nothing to do with the score. This was a chance for the Aggies to work against another team, running the offense and playing defense.
 
"We had way too many turnovers in the game," said NM State head coach Marvin Menzies. "We cut them way down in the second half, but 21 is still too many."
 
The Aggies got scoring from 11 of their 12 dressed players as they put their newest up-tempo offense in front of players with another color jersey.
 
"It's a work in progress," said Menzies. "We didn't see all of our options. In fact we were not really looking from our wings spots. But this game has given us good tape and a lot to work with."
 
Menzies was pleased at the NM State defense in holding WNMU to just 39 points and 24 percent from the field.
 
NM State hit 47.5 percent from the floor, but collected 62 rebounds with 22 of those offensive. WNMU grabbed 23 boards total.
 
The Aggies were paced in scoring by sophomore Paschal Siakam of Douala, Cameroon, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year by the media, who collected 17 points in 17 minutes. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
 
But it was redshirt freshman Eli Chuha of Redlands, Calif./Redlands East, that turned heads. In 17 minutes of action, Chuha scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
Sophomore Braxton Huggins of Bakersfield, Calif./Mira Monte, also scored nine points to join Chuha behind Siakam.
 
Western was paced by freshman Carter Aby off bench, scoring a team-high eight points. Junior Steven Loukes added seven points with five rebounds, while senior Adam Kesler chipped in seven points as well.
 
The Aggies return to their practice schedule on Tuesday, then open the season next week when Houston Baptist visits the Pan American Center on Nov. 13. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.