JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – NM State (12–13, 5–10 CUSA) showed resilience following a heartbreaking loss earlier in the week, bouncing back in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon with a 79–71 road victory over Jax State (13–12, 8–6 CUSA) inside Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Aggies leaned on a strong defensive effort, timely shot making, and control of the glass to secure the conference win and get back into the win column.
The contest opened with both teams trading blows early before NM State began to settle into rhythm offensively midway through the first half. Interior finishes from Julius Mims and perimeter scoring from Jayland Randall helped the Aggies create separation, allowing NM State to carry momentum into the locker room with a halftime advantage.
The Gamecocks made their push coming out of the break, trimming the deficit and briefly swinging momentum in its favor. However, the Aggies responded with composure down the stretch. Randall provided a major offensive spark off the bench, while Elijah Elliott delivered critical free-throw scoring late to help NM State maintain control in the closing minutes.
NM State's ability to dominate the boards proved pivotal throughout the contest, as the Aggies consistently generated second-chance opportunities while limiting Jax State to one-and-done possessions on the defensive end. Mims anchored that effort inside, finishing with a double-double performance that helped tilt the physical battle in NM State's favor.
Randall led all scorers with 20 points, delivering one of his most efficient performances of the season, while Elliott added 12 points to help close out the victory. The Aggies' defensive discipline and late-game execution ultimately allowed them to secure the road win and get back into the win column.
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Jayland Randall delivered one of his strongest performances in an Aggie uniform, pouring in a game-high 20 points off the bench on an efficient 7-12 shooting performance, including 5-7 from beyond the arc. The five made three-pointers matched his season high, while his scoring output fell just one point shy of his season-best 21-point performance earlier this year against South Alabama.
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Elijah Elliott came through in crucial moments for NM State, finishing with 12 points coming all from the free-throw line – marking his first double-figure scoring performance since his 26-point outing against FIU on Jan. 24 in Las Cruces. His late-game poise at the stripe played a key role in securing the victory.
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