LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball fell to New Mexico State 88-79 on Saturday at the Pan American Center.
 
Graduate student Tyson Smith led UTRGV (16-14, 7-6 WAC) with 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc, with four assists. Senior Terry Winn III scored 17 points with four rebounds. Sophomore Greg Bowie II finished with 10 points.
 
Ivan Aurrecoechea led NM State (24-4, 12-1 WAC) with 20 points and seven rebounds. AJ Harris and JoJo Zamora each scored 14 points. Eli Chuha finished with 11 points.
 
UTRGV took its only lead of the game when junior Jordan Jackson hit a layup to make the score 2-0. UTRGV kept the game close for the first 15 minutes, though, as a Bowie jumper brought UTRGV within 12-9, a layup by senior Johnny Crnogorac brought UTRGV within 25-21, and three-straight Winn jumpers made the score 31-27.
 
UTRGV scored the first four points of the second half to make the score 45-38 on a Jackson layup, but New Mexico State responded with a 19-6 run to go up 64-44.
 
New Mexico State still led by 20 at 81-61 with 4:30 remaining. UTRGV outscored New Mexico State 18-7 the rest of the way.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Chicago State.

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