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NM STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL

Rejuvenated NM State blasts SFA, 72-58, to remain in upper tier of WAC standings

Allen and Rice combined for 47, Aggies return to win column

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The phrase "be better" is one of the most powerful phrases leaders can use, if applied correctly.

Spoken loudly and brashly without direction or specific instructions, it is used simply a cudgel used to belittle, demean and break down.

Used in conjunction with a list of things that individuals or groups need to "be better" at, though, it can aid in the improvement of skills, rather than detract from those skills and the person or group.

After Thursday night's performance by the NM State men's basketball team in Huntsville, Texas, it was clear the Aggies needed to "be better" if they wanted to avoid a second-straight WAC loss. The messages head coach Chris Jans and his staff sent to the Aggies regarding their needs for improvement were received loud and clear.

Teddy Allen torched the 'Jacks for 26 points, Jabari Rice added 21 more and NM State was, well, better than SFA by using its hot shooting, hard-nosed rebounding and a dose of devastating defense to come up with a 72-58 win over the 'Jacks Saturday inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.

FIRST HALF
• A different starting five - one consisting of Nate PryorClayton Henry, Rice, Will McNair and Johnny McCants - stepped out onto the floor of William R. Johnson Coliseum to start the game for the Aggies.
• That quintet saw SFA post star Gavin Kensmil go to work down low early and give the hosts a 4-0 lead by connecting on two close-range buckets 2:21 into the tilt.
• With Kensmil controlling things down low for the 'Jacks, NM State elected to take it outside of the paint to take control for good. The Aggies landed a major body blow on SFA by going on an 19-4 run over a span of 4:32.
• Rice started the surge by splashing a wing three pointer and equalized things at 6-6 with a second trifecta with 15:35 to go in the half.
• Coming off the bench for the first time as an Aggie, Allen added to NM State's fun by converting a fast break layup at the 15:03 mark. That score put the visitors on top for good and triples by Allen and Donnie Tillman on consecutive Aggie possessions pushed the visitors' lead to 18-8.
• Mario McKinney Jr., made it an 11-point NM State edge, 19-8, after draining the first of his two fast break free throws with 12:16 to go.
• Things continued to go the Aggies' way with Allen administering an offensive clinic in the first frame. The third of his five first-half triples with 6:26 to go pushed NM State's lead to its largest of the half, 27-13.
• NM State maintained its double-digit lead until the final minute of the first half. Allen again made it a double-digit NM State advantage when his long ball with 2:05 showing on the clock made the score 33-22 and a put-back layup off of Allen's mitts made the score 35-22 with 61 ticks left.
• SFA managed to cut the Aggies' lead to single-digits before the halftime horn sounded. Calvin Solomon converted a fast-break layup with 55 seconds left on the clock before Latrell Jossell's two free throw swishes with 21 seconds remaining made it a 35-26 NM State edge at the break.
• The damage, though, had been done by Allen. NM State's sharpshooting assassin went 7-of-9 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point land for 19 points. SFA, meanwhile, mustered 26 on an 11-of-33 (33.3-percent) from the field. The three-point line was the difference, though, as NM State went 8-of-14 from downtown in the half compared to a 2-of-12 (16.7-percent) showing by the 'Jacks.

SECOND HALF
• The double-digit lead NM State enjoyed through most of the first frame manifested once again in the second frame after McNair Jr., converted a tough layup with 15:08 remaining in the game. With the Aggies ahead 42-32 and threatening to blow the game open, the 'Jacks dug deep and made a bid for the lead.
• Sadaidriene Hall and Jaylin Jackson-Posey joined forced and lead an 8-0 SFA run that cut the Aggies' lead down to two, 42-40, with 12:27 on the clock. Hall's runner in the paint off of an assist from Jackson-Posey capped off the 'Jacks' surge before Rice was able to quite the crowd.
• The Houston, Texas, product sliced his way through the interior and got a runner to fall before Yuat Alok connected on a mid-range jumper to push the visitors' lead back to six, 46-40.
• Allen again came up big, draining a corner three while being fouled by Latrell Jossell with 9:49 to go. After finishing off his four-point play at the free throw line, NM State's lead was again at 10, 50-40.
• SFA's last gasp again came in the form of Hall and Jackson-Posey. That duo converted baskets on consecutive Lumberjack offensive trips and pulled the 'Jacks back within six, 52-46, with 7:36 to go.
• Clayton Henry, however, answered with a fast-break triple to quell the 'Jacks' momentum. Though Hall came back with a layup on the other end, NM State got four consecutive points to make it a double-digit lead once again.
• Jossell breathed a bit of life back into the 'Jacks when his three-pointer with 4:06 to go trimmed NM State's lead to 62-53, but Rice slammed the door from there.
• Rice scored the first five points of a 7-0 Aggie run which culminated with Tillman's driving layup to push the visitors' lead to 69-53 with 1:28 left.

KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• Allen and Rice got top billing on offense, but NM State's defensive efforts were a big part of the Aggies' win, too. The Aggies let the 'Jacks shoot just 38.1-percent (24-of-63) from the field which included a poor 6-of-23 (26.1-percent) showing from three-point range.
• Rebounding, a toughness component NM State had been lacking according to head coach Chris Jans, was there in spades for the Aggies in Nacogdoches. NM State crushed the 'Jacks on the glass, owning a 47-29 edge against its first-time opponent. Rice and Tillman led the way there, springing for eight apiece while Allen added seven.
• McCants headlined NM State's defensive effort by finishing with four of the Aggies' six blocked shots to go along with six rebounds and five points.
• Hall went 7-of-12 from the field for a team-high 14 points in the 'Jacks' corner. Calvin Solomon, who was one of three SFA players in foul trouble all night, finished with 11 on a 5-of-11 clip from the field.
• NM State moved to 16-3 and 6-1 in league action with the win. The Aggies' 16 wins are the most by any WAC club and they pushed their road record to 6-1 as well.

COMING UP NEXT
• Saturday night in Las Cruces, the rematch NM State fans have been waiting for is set to take place inside the Pan American Center. At 7:00 p.m., NM State goes toe-to-toe with Grand Canyon, the defending WAC regular season and tournament champions, in the first showdown between the two clubs since the 2021 WAC Tournament championship match.

NM State Men's Basketball

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