BIG WEST ROUNDUP : New Mexico State Comes From 17 Down to Beat UCSB

Rick Fluckey hit a three-point shot with 21 seconds left and New Mexico State overcame a 17-point deficit to beat UC Santa Barbara, 66-64, Saturday night at Las Cruces, N.M.

The Gauchos had two chances to score in the final 18 seconds, but Lucius Davis’ 12-footer bounced off the back rim and Carrick DeHart’s half-court shot at the buzzer fell short.

New Mexico State improved to 20-2 overall and 11-1 in the conference, giving the Aggies their first back-to-back 20-victory seasons in 20 years.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Gauchos (16-6 and 9-4).

Santa Barbara led, 44-27, with 18 minutes left when the Aggies went on a 15-0 run. Keith Hill’s baseline jump shot and free throw with 13:51 left capped the run as New Mexico State pulled to within 44-42.

Randy Brown’s two free throws tied the score, 46-46, with 11:39 remaining. The Gauchos regained the lead several times, but could not pull away.

Santa Barbara led, 39-25, at halftime by shooting 67% from the floor and holding the Aggies to only 25%.

Hill led New Mexico State with 12 points. Fluckey hit four three-pointers in the second half to finish with 12 and Brown had 10.

Utah State 88, San Jose State 83--Kendall Youngblood scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and teammate Allen Gordon added a career-high 16 points to lead the Aggies in San Jose.

Utah State (12-11, 6-6) snapped a four-game losing streak, shooting 61% from the field, including seven of eight on three-point shots.

Kenne Young led the Spartans (5-16, 2-10), losers of seven in a row, with a career-high 25 points. Mike Wasserburger added a career-high 17 points, 15 of those coming on five three-pointers.