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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In front of nearly 12,000 fans at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M., Saturday night, Seattle University men’s basketball led New Mexico State for nearly 32 minutes, seeking an upset of the Western Athletic Conference leader on its home court. But the lead would slip away late against a side that has lost just four conference games at home in the past decade and the Aggies would prevail, 59-53.
Terrell Brown led all scorers with 25 points, one shy of his career high. The redshirt sophomore went 8-17 from the field, including 2-3 from three, and 7-8 from the charity stripe. He also added five rebounds and four assists on the night.
No other Redhawk would reach double figures as Riley Grigsby came off the bench to chip in six. Myles Carter, who battled foul trouble all night, finished with four points in 15 minutes. Mattia Da Campo and Morgan Means, who would also both foul out late in the game, had five points apiece.
Trevelin Queen led the Aggies (22-4, 11-1 WAC) with 13 points while AJ Harris added 12.
“Our guys played their hearts out in a tough environment,” said Head Coach Jim Hayford. “We put together a great effort and this was a tough outcome. New Mexico State is a talented team with excellent coaching.”
Seattle U came out of the gates with a renewed focus, clamping down on defense to limit the Aggies. NM State would score the game’s first point on a free throw two minutes in, but the Redhawks would score the next six points on a Carter layup, Da Campo three and Brown free throw.
The Redhawks would lead 11-3 just inside the under 12 media timeout, and eventually use a 10-1 run to open up a 21-8 advantage with 7:02 left in the frame. The Aggies would cut the spread down to five, 23-18, just inside two minutes, but Brown would hit back-to-back triples to help Seattle U take a 29-22 lead into the break.
A slow offensive start to the second half for both teams saw only a single free throw made in the opening two minutes. Means knocked down a three at the 7:45 mark to push Seattle U’s lead to nine, 32-23. Back-to-back Aggie triples trimming the spread to five, but the Redhawks would answer with six straight points for a 40-29 advantage with 14:45 to go.
But the Redhawks’ shortened bench, along with foul trouble, saw the Aggies work their way back once again. A 12-2 run brought the home team within one, 42-41, at the 8:30 mark. A pair of free throws by NMSU’s Terrell Brown tied the game, 47-47.
Anand Hundal briefly put the lead back in the Redhawks’ hands with a putback layup. But Clayton Henry’s three pointer at the 5:26 mark gave the Aggies their first lead, 50-49, since two minutes into the game. The Redhawks would manage just four points after that as the Aggies held on down the stretch.
Seattle U returns home for five of its final six games of the regular-season, beginning Thursday, Feb. 21 against Kansas City. Tip-off from the Redhawk Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.