New Mexico State Gets Even With Long Beach, 104-91

The big rematch was over early. With about nine minutes left in the first half Saturday, the raucous, revenge-minded 12,599 New Mexico State fans at the Pan American Center were already shouting toward the Cal State Long Beach bench, “Go start the bus.”

It seemed reasonable advice for the 49ers, who had just gone through a four-minute nightmare in which they were outscored, 17-0.

That run increased a 23-18 New Mexico State lead to 40-18, and from there the Aggies eased to a 104-91 victory over the only team that has defeated them in the Big West Conference this season.

“We didn’t like losing to them down there,” New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy said, referring to the 49ers’ 72-56 victory Jan. 15 in Long Beach.

Aggie guard Randy Brown, who converted a steal into a breakaway dunk during that stunning stretch midway through the opening half, pinpointed the reason for the Aggies’ success: “We just ate their press up, slicing through for easy baskets. I’m surprised they kept it on. I guess that’s their bread and butter.”

Before the run was over, Brown added four consecutive free throws after Long Beach Coach Joe Harrington was assessed two successive technical fouls for his complaints about the officiating.

“When a game gets out of control, it’s hard to regain control,” Harrington said. “I thought a quick technical might help. It didn’t, so I got another one.”

The Aggies, who never trailed, were just getting started. They sped to leads of 58-29 and 60-31 before settling for a 63-31 halftime lead. It was the most points New Mexico State had scored in a first half in 13 years.

The many easy shots the Aggies got were reflected in their 64% field-goal shooting in the first half.

“New Mexico State played like a nationally ranked team tonight,” Harrington said.

The Aggies, who have not broken into the top 25 this season, are 18-2 overall and 9-1 in the Big West. They are 12-0 at home and have a four-game winning streak.

And they won without center James Anderson, their leading scorer and rebounder, who had returned to East Chicago, Ind., for his grandmother’s funeral.

But Jason Trask and Chris Hickman filled in for Anderson and combined for 19 points and 12 rebounds.

William Benjamin, who made 13 of 16 free throws, led the Aggies with 18 points. Brown and Keith Hill each scored 16, Michael New had 15 and Reggie Jordan 14.

Long Beach used a flurry of three-point shots to get within 10 twice in the last minute.

“We were too far behind,” said Harrington, whose team fell to 13-6 and 6-5. “It’s hard to get something going when they go to the line so much.”

New Mexico State made 32 of 52 foul shots, but the game got somewhat closer because the Aggies made only 17 of 33 from the line in the second half.

“When we get up on a team we keep the score down by missing free throws,” McCarthy said. “If we have a weakness, it’s that we don’t have a killer instinct.”

Lucious Harris, despite eight-of-23 shooting from the field, led the 49ers with 18 points. Kenny Jarvis and Mike Masucci each scored 16.

The Aggies, who had claimed they were tired from playing four games in eight days when they lost at Long Beach, were still fresh at the end this time, becoming the first team this season to score more than 100 points against the 49ers.