Box Score LAS CRUCES, N.M. – While every game is critical throughout the season, rivalry games always mean a little more. Records and past results are thrown out, and all that matters is the next 40 minutes. The Battle of I-25 did not disappoint, touting thirteen lead changes and a flurry of highlight-worthy plays. Ultimately, NM State (5-7, 0-0 CUSA) fell to New Mexico (10-1, 0-0 MWC) 73-72 on Friday night.
The Aggies were led by junior guard Jaylin Jackson-Posey who put up 22 points, four rebounds and two assists tonight. NM State also had five players in double figures tonight Posey (22), Suggs (12), Cook (11), Carpenter (11) and Rawls (10).
FIRST HALF
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Coming out the gate, UNM guard Jaelen House opened the game aggressively, missing a triple and failing to convert on a couple of layup attempts. This led to Jaylin Jackson-Posey making his first three-pointer of the night and marking the first points of the Aggies for the night.
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After a Lobo basket, both teams continued to trade the lead, flipping back and forth over the rest of the first half of play. Following a pair of free throws from Kasoi Ezeagu and a massive block by Robert Carpenter, the teams continued to battle for the last five minutes of the half. The half ended with a midrange jumper from Jordan Rawls to make the score 30-32 with the Lobos leading.
SECOND HALF
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Much like the first half, the Aggies came out the gate with a big three pointer by Christian Cook to take the lead. This then quickly turned into a game of runs with the Lobos' responding with a 12-0 with Jalen House accounting for six of those points going into the first media timeout with 16:34 left in the half. NM State returned the favor coming out of the break with a 12-1 run of its own kicked off by a Jackson-Posey layup with Suggs putting up six of those points.
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Going into the later part of the second half the Aggies went on a 17-7 from nine minutes until the last minute of the game that started and ended with a Cook free throw. After the run, NM State earned a four-point lead (72-68) and had a chance to control its destiny. In the last minute, Jaelen House made a big three-pointer at the top of the key to take back some momentum from the Aggies and decrease the lead to one point. On the next possession for the Lobos' Dent cashed in an athletic layup to take the lead.
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On the last possession to attempt to win the game, Jaylin Jackson-Posey tried to use a screen from Kaosi Ezeagu and lost the ball which led to a turnover. The Aggies then got another opportunity to score with only 1.8 left on the clock attempting to make a full-court pass to get a shot off and were not able to. The final score in Las Cruces was 73-72.
Number of notes
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Jaylin Jackson-Posey had himself a game in front of a fervent Aggie home crowd, putting up career highs in points (22), 3-pointers made (4) and field goals made (9). This is his fifth game in double-digits, and the first since putting up 12 points on Dec. 12.
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Suggs in his second game back registered the most minutes he has all season (18) and managed to put up another double-digit scoring night finishing 5-8 from the field with 12 points, four rebounds and one assist.
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Jordan Rawls did not play the first time these teams met. He made sure to impact his team leading the Aggies in minutes (35) and breaking double-digits, scoring with 10 points, adding four assists and three rebounds.
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The Aggies finished the night with five scorers in double figures for only the third time this season. Posey (22), Suggs (12), Cook (11), Carpenter (11) and Rawls (10).
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