NM State Men’s Basketball 1-13-18

I got back from watching the Women play and having a swell dinner, but I suddenly got very tired when I got home.  I think I was fighting off something and ended up taking a nap.  I went completely out for an hour and a half and missed the start of the pregame.  Still exhausted, I managed to sit up to listen to the game.  I was glad I did.  Once again, the Aggie Men put on a pretty good show. 

This game versus the CSU-Bakersfield Roadrunners was the Aggies’ eighth road game in a row.  Granted some of those were in Hawaii, but still that’s a long time to not have your home fans cheering for you.  For much of the first half, the guys played out-of-focus on offense.  After 10 minutes, it was 12-6 Roadrunners.  At least the Aggie defense was holding.  After nearly 20 minutes of futility, the Aggies were finally able to connect on a couple of three’s late.  At the half, Zach Lofton put in a layup to give the Aggies a slim 26-25 lead.  He had 13 of those 26 points.  On the radio, Jack Nixon got a bit chippie with the Bakersfield staff for giving him incorrect stats for the half.    

To start the second half, Moataz Aly on the Roadrunners got his third goaltending call of the game, one offensive, two defensive.  You really have to be trying to get one during a game, much less three.  The Aggies’ long-range shooting finally zeroed in, which kicked off a run.  An AJ Harris layup and free throw capped an 11-point drive that the Roadrunners never recovered from.  It was 46-35 Aggies with seven minutes left.

As the frustration for Bakersfield mounted, the game got more physical, but the Aggies gave it right back.  There were double technicals issued to Johnny McCants and a Roadrunner player, along with another double technical to Zach and Moatz Ali later.  With three minutes left, the Roadrunners went on a short four-point run to make it 55-44.  From here, the Aggies went to a “control” offensive and bled the clock, while pressing hard on defense.  The Roadrunners began intentional fouling, which may have kept the crowd around.  They have the same Chik-fil-a promotion we have where if an opposing player misses two free throws, everyone gets a free sandwich.  In spite of the screaming crowd, the fouled Aggies did disappoint them.  No free sandwiches tonight, Bakersfield.

Our final was Aggies 66, Roadrunners 53.  The Aggies went 7-1 on their road trip.  That’s impressive.  Watching the local sports news later, I saw that the section behind the Aggie bench looked full of Aggie fans.  That’s impressive too.  Zach Lofton had 28 to lead the team.  Eli Chuha had 16, 14 in the second half, which really made a difference.  I’ve got tickets to the guys’ next Saturday home game, so I’m excited.