LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico State senior guard Jonathan Gibson scored a career-high 31 points in a 84-68 victory over North Carolina A&T on Thursday at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.
NMSU (2-3) led by 16 at halftime and by 20 after a 10-2 run early in the second half, leading from start to finish. A&T (3-4) closed to 59-54 with 8:45 left to play on a Tavarus Alston layup to cap a 12-3 run but it was as close as A&T would come. New Mexico State outscored A&T 23-14 in the final eight minutes, shooting 16-of-19 from the free throw line during the stretch and 28-of-32 for the game.
Robert Johnson led A&T with 15 points as A&T shot 7-of-22 from 3-point range in the second half to get back into it.
Jahmar Young added 23 points for New Mexico State and Hamidu Rahman had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to help NMSU outrebound A&T 45-31.
NMSU scored the first nine points of the game as A&T (3-4) missed its first 13 attempts from 3-point range. A&T was 9-of-39 from long range and 38.2 percent from the floor.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
