Vandals can’t hold big lead

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State guard Mike Mitchell, playing in his last home game as an Aggie, helped ignite a furious second-half rally to lead New Mexico State to a 66-50 men’s basketball win over Idaho Saturday night.

Mitchell scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and added three steals as New Mexico State (15-12, 10-5) moved into second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Aggies outscored the Vandals (4-22, 1-13) 39-9 in the final 17 minutes of the game.

The Aggies trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half before mounting the rally.

Tanoris Shepard led Idaho with 13 points, while Keoni Watson added 11 before fouling out with 8:41 to play.

New Mex. St. 66, Idaho 50

Idaho (4-22, 1-13)—Vrzina 1-2 0-0 2, Dubois 3-4 1-2 8, Kale 1-3 2-2 4, Watson 4-6 3-4 11, Shepard 5-16 2-2 13, Forge 0-1 0-0 0, Jakovljevic 0-0 0-0 0, Ledbetter 3-10 0-1 9, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Bowden-Key 0-0 0-0 0, Nwoke 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 18-43 9-13 50.

New Mexico State (15-12, 10-5)—Nelson 8-12 5-5 21, Lawrence 2-3 0-0 4, Mitchell 5-14 4-5 15, Ingram 0-4 0-0 0, Knauber 3-6 0-0 7, Davis 4-6 3-4 14, Caston 0-0 0-0 0, Fisher 2-4 1-2 5, Hall 0-2 0-0 0, Dominguez 0-1 0-0 0, Ley 0-0 0-0 0, Ford 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 13-16 66.

Halftime—Idaho 33, New Mexico State 23. 3-point goals—Idaho 5-21 (Ledbetter 3-9, Dubois 1-1, Shepard 1-8, Forge 0-1, Watson 0-2), New Mexico State 5-16 (Davis 3-4, Knauber 1-4, Mitchell 1-6, Ingram 0-1, Dominguez 0-1). Fouled out—Watson. Rebounds—Idaho 26 (Dubois 5), New Mexico State 32 (Nelson 9). Assists—Idaho 7 (Shepard, Watson 3), New Mexico State 5 (Ingram, Nelson 2). Total fouls—Idaho 20, New Mexico State 13. A—7,150.