SEATTLE – Twenty-six hours after Seattle U and NM State went head-to-head in a thrilling offensive battle, it was a defensive battle that would cap the two-game Western Athletic Conference series. And game two would go to the Aggies in a 65-58 final at the Redhawk Center late Saturday night.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well - Seattle U finishing 34 percent from the field and the Aggies hitting at a 37 percent clip - but the differentiating stat would be NM State's 45-24 rebounding advantage.
The Aggies hauled in 19 offensive boards for 21 second-chance points while the Redhawks finished with just six o-boards for 10 points.
"We didn't shoot the ball like we need to," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "And if you're not doing that, you've gotta be tough on the boards. We've lost a lot of these games, five-six points, one possession with four minutes to go...they were a little better than us tonight."
Aaron Nettles opened the night with a three, but it would take nearly three minutes for another basket to fall for either side. NM State's Wilfried Likayi buried a three of his own on a second-chance attempt and Riley Grigsby answered for the Redhawks with a bucket in the paint.
Neither team led by Moore than five for much of the half. A Nate Robinson three with 1:32 on the clock made it a two-point game in favor of the Aggies, 25-23. But the visitors would close out the frame with a 7-0 spurt to carry a 32-23 lead into the break.
The momentum stayed with the Aggies in the second as they hit four consecutive threes to open up a 45-31 lead with 13:44 to play.
Trailing 47-33, the Redhawks (9-8, 2-3 WAC) pieced together an 11-0 run, capped by a Darrion Trammell three - his first field goal of the night - to make it a one-possession game, 47-44.
NM State (5-5, 2-4 WAC) would extend the lead back out to nine, but Seattle U would rally again as a layup and-one by Trammell made it 55-52 with 3:27 to play.
The Aggies would get a three from Kalen Williams on the ensuing possession, and with 73 seconds remaining, a Clayton Henry three pointers pushed the spread to eight, 61-53, and out of reach for the Redhawks.
"That first six-seven minutes of the second half (NM State) just got rebounds," said Hayford. "And then we kind of toughened up just like the night before and we cut the lead, but now we're coming back from 12 to cut it to three. Then they made two big threes, including the dagger by Henry."
Grigsby finished with 17 points for Seattle U while Trammell added 16, including 15 in the second half. NM State was paced by Jabari Rice's 19 points. Johnny McCants added 16 points and Henry had 10 to go along with 10 boards.
The Redhawks head back out on the road next week, traveling to Edinburg, Texas, for a pair of WAC games at UTRGV. Tip-off both Friday and Saturday from UTRGV Field House is set for 7 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Pacific.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well - Seattle U finishing 34 percent from the field and the Aggies hitting at a 37 percent clip - but the differentiating stat would be NM State's 45-24 rebounding advantage.
The Aggies hauled in 19 offensive boards for 21 second-chance points while the Redhawks finished with just six o-boards for 10 points.
"We didn't shoot the ball like we need to," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "And if you're not doing that, you've gotta be tough on the boards. We've lost a lot of these games, five-six points, one possession with four minutes to go...they were a little better than us tonight."
Aaron Nettles opened the night with a three, but it would take nearly three minutes for another basket to fall for either side. NM State's Wilfried Likayi buried a three of his own on a second-chance attempt and Riley Grigsby answered for the Redhawks with a bucket in the paint.
Neither team led by Moore than five for much of the half. A Nate Robinson three with 1:32 on the clock made it a two-point game in favor of the Aggies, 25-23. But the visitors would close out the frame with a 7-0 spurt to carry a 32-23 lead into the break.
The momentum stayed with the Aggies in the second as they hit four consecutive threes to open up a 45-31 lead with 13:44 to play.
Trailing 47-33, the Redhawks (9-8, 2-3 WAC) pieced together an 11-0 run, capped by a Darrion Trammell three - his first field goal of the night - to make it a one-possession game, 47-44.
NM State (5-5, 2-4 WAC) would extend the lead back out to nine, but Seattle U would rally again as a layup and-one by Trammell made it 55-52 with 3:27 to play.
The Aggies would get a three from Kalen Williams on the ensuing possession, and with 73 seconds remaining, a Clayton Henry three pointers pushed the spread to eight, 61-53, and out of reach for the Redhawks.
"That first six-seven minutes of the second half (NM State) just got rebounds," said Hayford. "And then we kind of toughened up just like the night before and we cut the lead, but now we're coming back from 12 to cut it to three. Then they made two big threes, including the dagger by Henry."
Grigsby finished with 17 points for Seattle U while Trammell added 16, including 15 in the second half. NM State was paced by Jabari Rice's 19 points. Johnny McCants added 16 points and Henry had 10 to go along with 10 boards.
The Redhawks head back out on the road next week, traveling to Edinburg, Texas, for a pair of WAC games at UTRGV. Tip-off both Friday and Saturday from UTRGV Field House is set for 7 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Pacific.