Walk-on Garza keys Ags’ rally
LAS CRUCES — Joe Garza had a night to remember at the Pan American Center on Wednesday, just when the New Mexico State Aggies needed it.
Garza, a junior walk-on from Las Cruces High School, scored a career-best 11 points (all in the second half) and helped NMSU take a 78-70 victory over Air Force in a backand-forth battle.
Sidy N’Dir and Jemerrio Jones finished with 15 points apiece to lead the Aggies (6-2), but Garza came up with several clutch 3-pointers to help NMSU take its first win over a Mountain West team other than New Mexico since 2001-02.
Not bad for a guy who spent his first two seasons at New Mexico State as a practice player for the school’s women’s basketball program.
“Man, it’s awesome,” Garza said of having a significant role off the bench for the Aggies. “I’m having so much fun. I sometimes think I have more fun on the bench than I do in the game. But that was a lot of fun tonight.”
Garza got the loudest cheer from an announced crowd of 4,382 when he nailed a 3-pointer with 1:51 left. At the time, Air Force (5-3) had trimmed a seven-point deficit to 69-68, but Garza’s shot gave the Aggies needed breathing room.
“I can’t say enough about Joe Garza,” NMSU coach Paul Weir said. “… He’s as much a part of changing the culture here as anyone. He cares about the uniform he wears.”
Air Force used its methodical half-court style to control the pace in the first half and led for much of it. The Falcons scored on back-door cuts, putbacks and open 3-pointers. They buried six 3s on their way to taking a 31-27 lead.
“It’s like root canal trying to defend those guys,” Weir said of the Falcons.
NMSU was just 2-for-13 from beyond the 3-point arc before halftime, but Air Force went to zone defenses after intermission and the Aggies found their shooting range. The home team hit seven of its 13 trey attempts in the second half. Garza and N’Dir each finished 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
“If teams are going to pack it in, it’s up to our guys to step up and hit shots,” Weir said. “When (the Falcons) went zone, we finally got in a rhythm and started getting the up-and-down pace we wanted.”
Hayden Graham went 4-for6 from behind the arc and led the Falcons with 20 points. AFA went 11-for-21 from 3-point range overall. (11) UCLA 98, UC-RIVERSIDE 56: In Los Angeles, Isaac Hamilton scored 27 points, tying his career-high with seven 3-pointers, and UCLA improved to 8-0, the Bruins’ best start since ex-Lobo coach Steve Alford’s first season in Westwood three years ago.
Freshman T.J. Leaf added 18 points and 10 rebounds, Aaron Holiday had 18 points and Thomas Welsh had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Lonzo Ball, the nation’s assist leader, set a freshman game assist record with 13 for the Bruins.