National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Mexico 70, San Diego St. 60
When: 10:15 PM ET, Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Where: The Pit Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Officials: # Tom O'Neill, # Gerry Pollard, # Scott Thornley
Attendance: 15411

No. 14 New Mexico 70, San Diego State 60:
Sophomore center Alex Kirk scored a season-high 25 points, including a career-high three 3-pointers, as the host Lobos won their fourth straight game.

Cameron Bairstow finished with 16 points and guard Tony Snell added 10 points for New Mexico (24-4, 11-2), which holds a two game lead in the Mountain West with three games remaining.

Reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Jamaal Franklin scored 16 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for San Diego State (20-8, 8-6), which fell into sole possession of fourth place in the Mountain West.

Unlike the first meeting on Jan. 26 which saw San Diego State blow out New Mexico 55-34 - the lowest point total since 1976 for the Lobos - this game was much more competitive at the start. The Lobos, behind 11 points by Kirk, took a 28-26 halftime lead in a half that featured 12 ties and three lead changes.

But the Lobos started the second half with a 14-4 run fueled by 3-pointers by Kirk and point guard Hugh Greenwood to take a 42-30 lead. San Diego got as close as 54-49 on a basket by James Rahon with 4:31 remaining, but the Lobos answered with a 11-4 run to win going away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New Mexico improved to 16-0 when leading at halftime. ... Franklin has scored 10 or more points in 47 of his last 48 games. ... Junior G Kendall Williams, who scored 46 points, including 10 3-pointers, in New Mexico's 91-82 win at Colorado State on Saturday, finished with eight points on 1-of-6 shooting.
Top Game Performances
 
San Diego St.   New Mexico
Jamaal Franklin 16 Scoring Alex Kirk 25
Winston Shepard 3 Assists Kendall Williams 8
Jamaal Franklin 9 Rebounds Alex Kirk 7
Jamaal Franklin 9 Free Throws Made Cameron Bairstow 6
J.J. O'Brien 2 Steals Jamal Fenton 1
Winston Shepard 1 Blocks Alex Kirk 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
San Diego St. 60 36.2 4-23 14-21 7 33 1 7 11
New Mexico 70 47.7 4-13 24-32 18 29 3 1 9