-and-
Strong defensive start was not enough to hold off Liberty.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State (12-12, 5-6) looked to even the season series against Liberty (20-5, 8-4) in the second matchup between the two teams this year. Despite a strong first half that saw the Aggies take a five-point lead into the break, NM State ultimately fell 64-54, dropping three of their last four contests.
The Aggies came out strong, winning the opening tip, but a turnover on the first possession allowed Liberty to strike first with an and-one layup by forward Zach Cleveland. After another quick bucket from the Flames, Christian Cook got the Aggies on the board with a crafty right-handed finish to make it 5-2.
Liberty responded with a three-pointer from Colin Porter, igniting a 12-6 run that pushed the Flames’ lead to 17-8 – their largest of the first half. Sensing the momentum shift, senior guard Zawdie Jackson energized the crowd with a strong drive and finish at the basket. This sparked a 10-2 run for the Aggies, capped by Dionte Bostick’s back-to-back tough finishes in the paint, including an and-one to give NM State its first lead of the game at 20-19.
The two teams exchanged leads before NM State closed the half on a 7-3 run, punctuated by a right-handed slam from Christian Cook after slicing through the defense. The Aggies entered halftime with a 29-24 lead, looking poised to protect their home court.
However, Liberty came out firing in the second half, opening with a 12-1 run to regain control at 36-30. Despite a mid-range jumper from Cook that pulled NM State within three at 38-35, the Flames responded with another offensive surge to extend their lead to 49-39.
Struggling to find consistent offense, the Aggies couldn’t close the gap as Liberty maintained control down the stretch. NM State’s shooting woes proved costly, and the Flames sealed the victory, handing the Aggies a 64-54 defeat.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
· Senior guard Zawdie Jackson led the Aggies with 18 points, adding four rebounds and one assist. This marked just his third game this season with 18 or more points. His previous two came when he scored 18 on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance against UTEP and when he posted a season-high 24 points against Utah Tech earlier in the year.
· Typically known for spreading the scoring across multiple players, NM State saw only two players reach double figures against Liberty – just the fourth time this has happened all season.
· Offensive struggles continued for the Aggies as they shot below 40% from the field for the fifth time in their last seven games – their most during any seven-game stretch this season. The only other period that came close was a four-game skid in late November when they faced Dayton, UNLV, Pepperdine, and Bowling Green.
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