New Mexico Lobos' Paint Power Falls Short Against Utah State Aggies' Second Half Surge

The New Mexico Lobos faced off against the Utah State Aggies in a challenging matchup at The Pit. The game concluded with the Aggies securing an 86-66 victory, pushing their record to 1-0, while the Lobos fell to 0-1.

First Half

The first half saw a competitive start from both teams. The Lobos managed to keep pace with the Aggies, ending the half with a narrow deficit of 36-33. New Mexico's offensive efforts were led by Tomislav Buljan, who contributed significantly with his scoring and rebounding prowess. Despite their efforts in maintaining pressure on Utah State's defense, the Pack struggled to capitalize on their opportunities beyond the arc, shooting only 23 percent from three-point range.

Second Half

In the second half, Utah State found another gear and pulled away decisively. Their offensive efficiency was evident as they scored an impressive 50 points in this period alone. The Aggies' ability to convert fast-break opportunities into points proved crucial as they outpaced New Mexico's transition defense. Meanwhile, Uriah Tenette tried to rally his team by adding valuable points and steals but couldn't bridge the gap created by Utah State’s relentless attack.

Final Thoughts

The game highlighted some key areas for improvement for New Mexico as they look ahead in their season schedule. Despite showing potential through strong performances inside the paint—scoring 32 points there—their overall field goal percentage of just 41 percent hindered them from keeping up with Utah State’s high-paced offense.

Fans can catch New Mexico Lobos’ next game against Boise State Broncos at The Pit on February 7th at 10:00 PM EDT on CBS Sports Network. Be sure not to miss it!

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