RENO, Nev.- New Mexico State junior guard Jahmar Young hit the game-winning shot with five seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Aggie men’s basketball team over Nevada, 80-79, in the WAC Tournament Semifinals, Friday, March 12, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. The Aggies improved to 21-11 and advance to the title game against Utah State, Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. NM State is making its third appearance in the championship game in the last four years.
With the Aggies trailing, 79-78, Young sank a jumper from the elbow to finish with 15 points. Sophomore forward Troy Gillenwater had a season-high 21 points while junior forward Wendell McKines recorded his second consecutive double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Jonathan Gibson also scored 10 points for the Aggies. NM State is now 8-0 in games decided by five points or less this season.
Nevada jumped to an early lead and scored the first seven points of the game. The Aggies answered with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 9-9 following a pair of sophomore center Hamidu Rahman free throws at the 17:20 mark. NM State collected its first lead, 13-11, with two free throws from Gillenwater with 16:09 to play.
At 9:38, junior guard Gordo Castillo hit his first 3-pointer of the game from the left wing to give the Aggies a 20-18 lead. In the first half, the game had eight ties and nine lead changes. The Aggies built its biggest advantage of the period, 34-28, at 3:49 when freshman forward Tyrone Watson sank a layup in transition.
After Nevada tied the game at 37-37 with 1:54 before half, sophomore guard Hernst Laroche made two free throws and the Aggies reclaimed the lead, 39-37. On their final possession of the half, both teams hit 3-pointers and the Aggies carried a 42-40 lead into the break.
NM State had a balanced offense in the first half with Gillenwater leading the way with 12 points. McKines added six points and six rebounds with Castillo contributing six points as well and Young and Gibson scored five each.
To start the second half, the Aggies extended their lead to eight, 51-43, when NM State scored seven straight and Gibson capped the rally with a 3-pointer at 16:45.
The Wolf Pack pulled within one points three times before taking a 75-74 lead at the 3:01 mark. NM State reclaimed the lead, 76-75, on a Gibson reverse layup with 1:43 to play. Nevada scored on the next possession before Young hit two free throws for a 78-77 Aggie advantage. Nevada took its final lead of the game with two free throws, 79-78, with 45 seconds remaining in regulation.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
