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ALBUQUERQUE — Anthony Mathis scored 25 points, including a season-high seven 3-pointers, to help New Mexico surge by Utah State 78-63 Wednesday in Mountain West play.
Makuach Maluach added 16 points for the Lobos (13-14, 8-6 MWC), who got 10 points apiece from Chris McNeal and Sam Logwood.
Sam Merrill scored a career-high 33 points to lead Utah State (14-13, 7-7 MWC). The former Bountiful High star drained 7-of-8 3-pointers, including back-to-back treys to open the second half that gave the Aggies a 42-36 advantage with 17:54 remaining.
But it was all Lobos from there, forcing a season-high 23 turnovers against the Aggies.
"Twenty-three turnovers is way too many. I thought we had more than that coming back up here," Merrill said. "We guarded pretty well for the most part, but then those last 10 minutes when we started to turn the ball over a little bit more, we just fell apart. It can't happen on the road. You have to be able to keep your composure."
Dane Kuiper scored five of the Lobos’ next seven points, taking a 43-42 on a triple with 16:17 left, and New Mexico held the Aggies without a field goal for near 10 minutes to pull away for the win.
Koby McEwen had 10 points and six rebounds for Utah State, which hosts league-leading No. 24 Nevada at 4 p.m. MST Saturday.
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