Box ScoreLAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's basketball team railed back from down 16 to pull within two before falling to the New Mexico State University Aggies 53-48 on Saturday at the Pan American Center.
The Aggies (13-10, 5-1 WAC) pushed their lead to 16 on three occasions, including 44-28 on an
Ian Baker layup with 10:49 to go, but senior
Shaquille Boga nailed a three to spark an 18-4 run as the Broncs (8-14, 2-4 WAC) pulled within 48-46 on a Boga jumper with 2:33 remaining. Sophomore
Janari Joesaar had 11 points during the run.
That where the scored stayed until the final 34 seconds, when the Aggies made five of their six free throw attempts to end the game.
Joesaar led the Broncs with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Boga scored 16 points. Junior
Shaquille Hines had a career-high tying 12 rebounds (six offensive).
Daniel Mullings led the Aggies with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc.
Pascal Siakam scored 11 points with six rebounds and three steals. Baker and
Remi Barry scored 10 points each.
The Broncs held an early lead, going up 6-3 on back-to-back jumpers by Joesaar. Barry tied the game with a three, but Joesaar hit another jumper to put the Broncs up 8-6 at the 13-minute mark.
After a three by Mullings and a tip-in by Barry, freshman
Dan Kimasa made a layup to bring the Broncs within one, but Mullings hit another three and Siakam made a pair of layups, one of which became a three-point play, as the Aggies used an 18-6 run to go up 24-14 with 3:32 remaining in the first half.
The Broncs pulled within eight early in the second half on a Kimasa three-point play, but
Tshilidzi Nephawe and
DK Eldridge came up with consecutive dunks, and then Mullings connected on a layup to make it 35-21.
The Broncs are back in action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when they visit Kansas City in a game that will be televised nationally on American Sports Network.
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