LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Two games into the season and New Mexico State already looks like a team finding its rhythm. Behind another strong outing from senior guard Jemel Jones, the Aggies cruised past New Mexico Highlands 74-58 on Tuesday night inside the Pan American Center to move to 2-0 on the year.
From the start, the Aggies played with control and confidence. Freshman forward Augustine Ekwe provided an early spark off the bench with back-to-back put-backs that shifted momentum after NMSU trailed 9-5. The Aggies responded with an 8-0 run capped by an Anthony Wrzeszcz and-one layup that gave them a lead they never surrendered.
That burst carried into halftime as Jones and Chris Terrell closed the half strong. Terrell’s corner three extended the lead to 29-24 at the break and set the tone for a dominant second half. Out of the locker room, the Aggies opened on an 11-2 run behind Jones’ step-back three and a three-point play from Cyr Malonga to push the margin to double digits at 37-24.
Moments later, Ekwe continued to work inside with two more buckets before Kyrese Mullen scored in transition to stretch the advantage to 47-32. From there, NM State’s depth and defensive pressure erased any chance of a Cowboys rally. The Aggies forced 21 turnovers for the second straight game and converted those mistakes into points at the other end.
Jones once again led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting while adding three assists and a steal in 32 minutes. Wrzeszcz followed with 15 points, and Ekwe delivered 10 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench. Terrell finished with six points, five steals, and four assists, setting the defensive tone that’s quickly become his trademark. Jones became the first Aggie since Christian Cook (December 2023) to post back-to-back 20-point games, while Terrell’s five steals marked the most by an NM State player since December 2022. The Aggies also recorded their second straight game with 20-plus forced turnovers, an early sign that defense will again define Hooten’s system.
NM State continues its opening homestand later this week before turning its focus to a tougher stretch of Division I opponents. For now, the Aggies can take pride in a 2-0 start built on energy, defense, and the emergence of new contributors making their mark.