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Christian Cook’s 24 points not enough as Blue Raiders rally for 71-66 win.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In its penultimate home game of the season, NM State suffered a 71-66 loss at the hands of visitor Middle Tennessee who used a 65.2% shooting clip in the second half to erase a seven-point deficit at the Pan American Center on Thursday night.
The Aggies (15-13, 8-7 CUSA) were led by guard Christian Cookwho finished with a team high 24 points to submit his highest scoring output since Jan. 2. Cook was supported by Peter Filipovity who was the Aggies’ only other player to finish in double figures as he turned in 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Middle Tennessee was fueled by a 30-point effort from Cam Weston who finished with four triples and 19 points in the second half alone.
To open the contest, the Aggies would win the tipoff and find the scoreboard first as Emmanuel Tshimanga knocked down a pair of free throws to break the seal. The two sides would trade blows during the first seven minutes before a deep jumper from Robert Carpenter handed the Aggies’ their largest lead of the first half (5) with 13:23 remaining. Three minutes later, the Aggie faithful would be brought to their feet as true freshman Jae’Coby Osborne threw down a two-handed dunk despite two MTSU defenders attempting to reject the emphatic jam.
After a 5-0 Blue Raider run that included MTSU’s only made three of the half, Christian Cook would score back-to-back unanswered buckets to push the Aggie lead back to four points. The sharpshooter showed off a different part of his game for the second pair of points as he slammed home a one-handed fastbreak dunk.
Moments later, MTSU knotted up the score at 22-22 with just under two minutes to play, however, a pair of field goals from Cook and Carpenter helped the Crimson and White carry a two-point lead into the locker room.
In the first half, the Aggies relied on their perimeter defense as the Blue Raiders shot an abysmal 1-13 (8%) from 3-point land during the first 20 minutes of action.
To kick things off in the second, the Aggies would get out to a quick 4-0 run with two quick baskets from Peter Filipovity and Christian Cook to push their lead to five just 41 seconds into the second half. After gaining a bit of a cushion over the next stretch, the Blue Raiders would slowly chip away at the Aggies’ lead before being able to take control after a Essam Mostafa layup as they would take a close 41-40 lead.
Though the Blue Raiders briefly seized momentum, the Aggies quickly responded. On the ensuing possession, Cook found just enough space to knock down a corner three, putting NM State back in front and igniting a 14-6 run that extended their lead to 54-47 with 8:29 remaining.
However, Middle Tennessee answered with an 11-3 surge over the next five minutes, fueled by a pair of Cameron Weston three-pointers, reclaiming a 58-57 lead with 3:36 left to play.
Weston wasn’t finished. The senior guard took over down the stretch, scoring 11 of the Blue Raiders’ final 13 points to seal the victory, as the Aggies fell 71-66.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
· Christian Cook finished with a team-high 24 points which marks his best offensive performance since Jan. 2, when he scored 25 points. This also marks his fifth 20-point game of the season and the ninth time this season that Cook has paced the Aggies in points.
· Peter Filipovity submitted his third straight of 15 or more points – marking the first time he has achieved this feat since a string of games beginning Jan. 4.
· The loss snaps the Aggies’ three-game win streak, which represented their longest win streak in league play this season.
· Entering the night, the Aggies were 14-1 when leading with five minutes remaining on the clock. Behind three 3-pointers from Weston, MTSU became just the second team to overcome a late deficit.
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