RIO RANCHO, N.M. – A second-half surge powered the New Mexico State men's basketball team past Northern New Mexico 98-75 Monday night in front of #Aggiequerque fans at the Santa Ana Star Center.
 
Ian Baker posted a career-high 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 15 in the second-half during the barrage of points NM State put up against NNMC. Eli Chuha recorded his 11th double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Aggies (21-2, 7-0 WAC) needed a little extra time to get going offensively in the first half of Monday's game as they came off the tail-end of a six-day road swing. The Eagles (4-20, 0-6 AII) at one point held a 16-15 lead, but the Aggies' speed was just too much for Northern New Mexico as NM State rattled off a 23-3 run capped off by a tip-in from Jemerrio Jones.
 
NNMC cut the Aggie lead to 43-36 heading into the break at the Santa Ana Star Center thanks to a 7-1 run, but a 26-14 edge in the paint saw NM State hold the lead.
 
New Mexico State started the second-half off well, taking a 54-45 lead before the Eagles crept within 60-54 of the Aggies at the 13:31 mark. However, an and-1 from Johnathon Wilkins sparked an offensive barrage that resulted in a 20-7 run and gave New Mexico State the 82-64 lead.
 
Tanveer Bhullar gave the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 94-69, on a pick-and-roll with Jermaine Haley at the top of the key that led to a jam with 3:03 left on the clock.
 
Haley finished with 14 of his career-high 16 points in the second frame to go along with five boards and five assists. Wilkins and Matt Taylor also chipped in with 11 points each to round out the list of Aggies in double-figures.
 
New Mexico State will now return home to the friendly confines of the Pan American Center where it has won 22-straight, dating back to last season. The Aggies are set to host Chicago State to open the second-half of conference play in a 7 p.m. tip.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: The 21-2 mark now ties the 1968-69 team for the second-best start in program history…with 13 assists tonight, NM State has reached double-digits in the assist category in 21-of-23 games…this is the fourth time the Aggies have reached the 90-point threshold this season…the nine turnovers is just the third time this season NM State has had less than 10 turnovers and the first since its Dec. 19 match-up against UC Irvine.