Nov. 27, 2007
Box Score
UTEP-New Mexico State Box Score (PDF)
Stefon Jackson scored 30 points, and UTEP used a dominating defensive effort in the second half to beat I-10 rival New Mexico State, 84-76, on Tuesday night in the Don Haskins Center.
"That's what college basketball is all about," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "They played hard and they played well, and so did we."
The Miners (4-1) clamped down on the Aggies (2-5) after trailing 42-40 at the intermission. UTEP limited NMSU to 42.1 percent shooting in the second half. The Miners also held the Aggies to eight points in the first eight and a half minutes of the period in building a 60-50 lead.
UTEP also outrebounded NMSU 22-11 in the second half after the Aggies won the battle of the boards in the first half, 27-18.
"I challenged our guys at the half to do their best to even up the rebounds in the second half," Barbee said.
A steal by Tavaris Watts and dunk by Jackson gave UTEP the lead for good, 46-44, with 18:31 remaining in the game. Jackson's three-pointer extended the Miners' lead to 63-51, their largest advantage of the night, with 10:58 to go.
New Mexico State closed the gap to four points three times in the final two minutes. A free throw by Martin Iti made the score 78-74 with 43 seconds to play, but UTEP's Marvin Kilgore hit a pair of free throws and added a dunk to widen the margin to 82-74 with 11 seconds left.
Jackson became the fifth UTEP player to score 30 points in a game against New Mexico State, joining Jim Barnes (twice), Antoine Gillespie, Nolan Richardson and Brandon Wolfram. It was Jackson's second career 30-point game.
Kilgore added 17 points and Randy Culpepper had 12 for the Miners, who committed only eight turnovers -- including two in the first half.
Justin Hawkins scored 29 points, including 21 in the first half, for New Mexico State. He shot 7-for-10 from the field in the first half and 2-for-8 in the second half.
The crowd of 9,773 was a season-high in the Don Haskins Center.
"It was a great environment, something we've got to have for every game," Barbee said. "Our fans definitely played a big role. They are as important to this program as any of our players."
The Miners will play at UNLV on Saturday at 8 p.m. MDT.
UTEP and Mew Mexico State will face one another on Dec. 8 in Las Cruces.
