Wilburn Scores 25 Points in New Mexico State Win

Playing the day after his mother’s funeral, Gilbert Wilburn scored 25 points to lead New Mexico State to a 72-61 victory over Cal State Long Beach Saturday night.

Wilburn also had 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and won the admiration of his coach, Neil McCarthy.

“He played extremely well and with great intestinal fortitude,” said McCarthy of the senior from Carson. “Yesterday, he was so emotional and choked up he couldn’t speak. But his father and sister wanted him to play.”

His mother, Gladys Wilburn, died last Monday, 10 days after suffering a heart attack.

Wilburn, took charge after the 49ers had come back from a 39-31 deficit to tie the game at 40-40 six minutes into the second half.

He made two quick baskets inside, and then Virgil Harris hit a three-point shot to make it 47-40.

McCarthy said that Wilburn had been playing at only about 40% efficiency in recent games because of worry about his mother.

The victory was only New Mexico State’s second in its last seven Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. games. The Aggies are 16-9 overall and 10-6 in the league.

“Our team goes as Gilbert goes,” McCarthy said.

For Long Beach (6-21 and 2-14), it was just another loss in a long season.

“Had we shot well, it was there for us to win,” Coach Ron Palmer said.

But the 49ers shot only 42.9% from the field, which is their season average. Morlon Wiley led the 49ers with 13 points.