Aggies Edge Panthers in a Nail-Biter at Von Braun Center
The New Mexico State Aggies emerged victorious with a 63-58 scoreline against the Florida International Panthers. The Aggies, who have had an unranked season, added another win to their record while the Panthers faced another setback. The game was part of the Conference USA Quarterfinal 4 and was held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
The Aggies started off with a solid first quarter, putting up 14 points to the Panthers' 8. However, they fell slightly behind in the second quarter scoring only 12 points to Florida International's 16. The third quarter saw an impressive resurgence from the Aggies as they racked up 21 points, outscoring their opponents by five. They maintained their lead in the final quarter with 16 points against Florida International's determined effort of 18 points.
Statistically speaking, New Mexico State showed dominance on both ends of the court. They grabbed a total of 42 rebounds compared to Florida International's 30 and were particularly effective on defense with eight steals throughout the game. Despite not registering any blocks, they managed to keep pressure on their opponents which is reflected in their eight steals and forcing a total of eighteen turnovers from Florida International.
Offensively, New Mexico State made good use of fast breaks scoring twelve fast break points and capitalized on turnovers by adding twenty more points off them. Their shooting percentages were modest but effective enough for victory; field goals stood at thirty-eight percent while free throws were converted at seventy-two percent accuracy.
One area where both teams struggled was three-point shooting; New Mexico State made just fifteen percent from beyond the arc while Florida International wasn't much better at nineteen percent. However, it was New Mexico State's ability to draw fouls and get to the line that proved crucial – they attempted twenty-nine free throws making twenty-one.
The upcoming game for New Mexico State Aggies will be against Liberty Flames at Von Braun Center scheduled for March 16th at around seven o'clock PM Central Time Zone (CT). Fans can catch this matchup live as it unfolds next week.