LAS CRUCES, N.M. (March 2)-The New Mexico State men’s basketball team suffered its first WAC loss at home this season to No. 25/21 Utah State, 58-54. The Aggies had won 12 consecutive WAC home games dating back to last year.

Junior forward Troy Gillenwater scored a game-high 17 points. This is the first time the Aggies (14-16, 8-7 WAC) hosted a ranked team in the Pan American Center since the 2006-07 season.

Freshman center Tshilidzi Nephawe recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Hernst Laroche added 10 points, while senior guard Gordo Castillo had nine.

In the first half, Gillenwater joined the 1,000-point club at NM State with his second field goal of the game. He became the 27th member of the club.

The Aggies trailed Utah State, 27-21, at halftime after a hotly contested 20 minutes of action. Gillenwater led all scorers with nine points. Sophomore forward Tyrone Watson, Nephawe and Laroche contributed four points each.

The Aggies claimed their first lead, 37-36, of the second half following back-to-back 3-pointers from Castillo and then a Watson layup with 9:51 to play.

NM State utilized a 14-2 run to take a five-point lead, 43-38, at the 7:33 mark. Utah State answered and tied the game, 43-43, with 6:30 to play, which led to three ties and two lead changes in the final minutes of action.

The Aggies host Nevada in the regular season finale, Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. NM State is honoring Castillo in a postgame celebration.