Utah State shoots poorly in loss at home to New Mexico

LOGAN — It hasn't been often this season that Utah State couldn't rise to the occasion when its back was against the wall. Saturday night was one of those few-and-far-between occasions.

The Aggies lost 82-63 to the New Mexico Lobos (18-4, 10-1 MW) in front of a sellout home crowd, snapping a three-game winning streak and marking just the second loss at The Spectrum all season.

"I think we missed shots today," Drake Allen said. "I think we had a great game plan. I think on defense, we could've picked up our energy a little more. And if we make shots, that game changes, maybe the outcome is a little bit different."

The Aggies (19-3, 9-2 MW) shot 37.5% from the field, 16.1% from the 3-point line and 43.5% on free throws. The team scored its lowest amount of points since the win over North Texas in late November. It was arguably their worst offensive performance of the season.

Allen led Utah State with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while adding two assists and two blocks. Deyton Albury had 12 points, and Ian Martinez and Dexter Akanna each scored 10 points apiece.

Martinez and Mason Falslev combined to shoot just 6-of-18 from the field, and neither made a 3-pointer on the night.

"It was a rough night," Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun said of Martinez and Falslev's performances. "They've really struggled the last two weeks."

The Lobos outscored the Aggies 52-27 in the second half, and also outrebounded the Aggies 48-33.

The Aggies struggled shooting from tipoff, but still managed to build up a 9-point lead with more than 15 minutes remaining in the second half. But that's when New Mexico exploded on a 21-5 run that sealed Utah State's fate.

"We've had a struggle with putting games away," Allen said.

It didn't help that Tucker Anderson and Akanno left the game with apparent leg injuries and didn't return. Calhoun said Anderson sprained his ankle and Akanno cramped up. He was confident the injuries wouldn't be long term.

"There was a lot going on," Calhoun said. "There was a lot of juggling, a lot of different lineups — things that we hadn't had to do. Both those injuries kind of hurt us, for sure."

Both teams came into Saturday's matchup on a three-game winning streak. The next meeting between the two is Feb. 16 in New Mexico.

The Aggies have a short turnaround, with a road game against Wyoming on Tuesday.

"I think we know where we're at," Allen said. "I think we're one of the best teams in the conference. I think we all believe it."

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