NM State men haven’t run out of miracles
The miracle comeback is, in most cases, hyperbole. But if you believe in it, New Mexico State’s men got their second of the season Thursday.
Tonight, they replay the team that was victimized by miracle No. 1, and can take firm hold of the Western Athletic Conference race if they win.
Trevelin Queen hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Aggies a 71-70 overtime victory at CSU Bakersfield on Thursday. The Aggies (19-4) improved to 8-1 in Western Athletic Conference play, taking sole possession of first place as Grand Canyon lost at home to Texas Rio Grande Valley 72-69. The Aggies play at Grand Canyon (14-8, 7-2 WAC) tonight in Phoenix.
To even get Queen in a position to deliver, the Aggies had to rally from a 61-51 deficit with 1:49 to play in regulation. Bakersfield (15-8, 6-3) turned the ball over on four straight possessions at the end of regulation, allowing NMSU to tie the game at 62-62 on a Terrell Brown (13 points) steal and dunk with 12 seconds remaining.
“When you are in that situation, there are good athletes on the floor playing with desperation and momentum can be in your favor. And we created some turnovers,” said second-year coach Chris Jans, who watched his team blow a 23-6 first-half lead.
Tied at 62-62 entering overtime, the Aggies tied the game at 68-68 on a Brown free throw as N.M. State was 22 of 33 (66.7 percent) at the foul line while Bakersfield was 13 for 16.
Bakersfield’s Jarkel Joiner (25 points) hit a midrange jumper with 7 seconds remaining to give Bakersfield a brief lead.
But as Bakersfield double-teamed Brown in transition, Brown found Queen (13 points) open on the right wing for an open 3-point attempt.
Tonight’s game, of course, is the rematch from Jan. 10 in Las Cruces, when the Aggies needed a buzzerbeater from Johnny McCants from about two-thirds the length of the court to defeat GCU 77-75 at the Pan Am Center.
The Aggie women (16-6, 8-1), meanwhile, seek their eighth consecutive win when they host Grand Canyon (5-14, 2-6) today at 2 p.m. at the Pan Am Center.
GCU is the lone league team to beat New Mexico State, 54-51, in Phoenix on Jan. 10. In that game, NMSU was 0-for-13 on 3-point tries.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS 95, SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES 82: In Las Vegas, N.M., Gerad Davis had 28 points and Raquan Mitchell 24 as the Cowboys (16-6, 11-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) beat Mines (10-14, 7-9).
No. 11 STANFORD 61, No. 7 OREGON STATE 44: In Stanford, Calif., Kiana Williams scored 16 of her 18 points in the first half, leading Stanford past Oregon State Friday night.
Alanna Smith added 17 points for the Cardinal (19-3, 9-2 Pac-12).
Destiny Slocum scored 23 points for Oregon State (19-4, 9-2). No. 8 MARQUETTE 59, GEORGETOWN 52: In Milwaukee, Isabelle Spingola scored 12 points and hit consecutive 3-pointers at the start of the fourth quarter that gave Marquette the lead for good in the win over Georgetown.
Spingola, Danielle King, and Amani Wilborn each had 12 points for Marquette (20-3, 11-0 Big East) .
USC 84, NO. 17 UTAH 80: In Salt Lake City, Mariya Moore scored 23 points and blocked a potential game-winning shot with two seconds left as USC beat Utah.
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES 60, NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS 46: In Las Vegas, N.M., Jordyn Lewis had a team-high 14 points in the loss by Highlands (4-19, 2-14 RMAC) to the Rockers (8-12, 5-11).