LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's basketball team grabbed its fifth-straight win Sunday evening after holding off Prairie View A&M 69-57 in the Pan American Center.
 
The Aggies got off to a great start, taking a 13-4 lead into the first media break at the 15:14 mark. Six-consecutive points from Jemerrio Jones extended the lead to 25-12 before turnovers by NM State, both forced and unforced, allowed Prairie View A&M to claw back into the game.
 
"We certainly were disappointed at halftime," Aggie head coach Chris Jans said. "We didn't end it well. Going into the half, we were a little discouraged. I like how they reestablished themselves in the second half. We have had a hard time putting teams away. We have been in this position a few times this year and we haven't been able to do it. But again, like I tell the other coaches, if that is our biggest problem, then that's good. It's not, but it's a good problem to have."
 
A 12-7 run by the Panthers in the final 7:47 minutes of action brought them within 32-28 of the Aggies heading into the break. The 11 first-half turnovers for New Mexico State (6-1) was also what kept Prairie View A&M (2-5) in the game. AJ Harris and Jones each had 10 points at the half and combined to make 9-of-11.
 
The second-half was a bit cleaner for the Aggies, committing just seven turnovers. A 14-5 run out of the gates gave NM State some breathing room, 46-33, 5:34 minutes into the second-half. After a pair of buckets from the Panthers' Zachary Hamilton, a 10-3 run capped off by free-throws from Eli Chuha gave the Aggies their largest lead 59-40 with 7:35 left to play.
 
A scoring lull for New Mexico State after getting its largest lead of the game saw NM State shoot just 4-of-11 from the field, which allowed the Panthers to creep back in. However, another solid offensive night from Harris – who finished with 17 points and four assists – held Prairie View A&M off for the 69-57 victory.
 
Jones finished with a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. The 18 points was just a point shy of his season-high and also added three assists and three steals.

POSTGAME NOTES
This is the third-straight game NM State has held an opponent to single-digit assists with two, which is also the lowest so far this season…Sunday was just the second time NM State have beaten on the glass, 33-31…the 17 assists ties the season-high for NM State with eight different players register at least one dime…NM State dominated the paint against Prairie View A&M 40-18…the 11 steals is also the first time this season the Aggies have reached the double-digit mark.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State remains at home this week as it plays host to San Diego at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, before heading up north to take on Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico on Saturday, Dec. 9.
 
++NM State ++