FULLERTON, Calif.-In a rematch of the ESPNU BracketBuster game from a season ago, the New Mexico State men’s basketball traveled to Cal State Fullerton and fell to the Titans, 84-73, Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif.
Sophomore center Hamidu Rahman recorded his first double-double of the year with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Aggies. Junior guard Jahmar Young also scored 19 while senior guard Jonathan Gibson contributed 16 points.
The tipoff was delayed 10 minutes due to a scoreboard malfunction and when the game started the Aggies raced to a 5-0 lead. The early advantage included a three-point play from sophomore guard Hernst Laroche.
Junior forward Robert Lumpkins directed the Aggies to a 15-3 lead at the 15:39 mark with seven points including his first 3-pointer of the season. Then at 12:59, Rahman ended a three minute scoring drought in the game with three-point play to give NM State a 15-point lead, 18-3.
The Aggies continued to control the contest and built a 23-3 lead when freshman forward Bandja Sy sank a layup on breakaway pass from Gibson and was fouled for three-point opportunity that forced Cal State Fullerton to take a timeout at 10:42. Following the break, Sy hit the free throw.
The NM State defense posted its best start of the season holding the Titans scoreless for nine minutes until their second field goal at the 9:15 mark. Cal State Fullerton ended the first half with a run but the Aggies retained a 37-33 lead at the break.
Offensively, the Aggies were very balanced in the first 20 minutes with Young leading the way with nine points. Both Lumpkins and Gibson added seven points each. NM State had an impressive performance at the free-throw line sinking 14-of-15 in the first half.
After the Aggies held the Titans to a 26.7 shooting percentage from the 3-point line in the first half, Cal State Fullerton used the long range shot to start the second period with a 10-0 run. The Titans shot 75 percent in the second half hitting 6-of-8 for behind the arc.
The Aggies trailed 60-42 with 13:13 remaining but battled back and pulled within four points, 74-70, when Gibson hit a 3-pointer at the 2:02 minute mark
The Aggies return home to host North Carolina A&T on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. inside the Pan American Center.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
