LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP)—Chris Jackson scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as New Mexico State cruised to a 78-60 victory over New Orleans Thursday night.
The Aggies (14-6, 5-4 Sun Belt) pulled away late in the second half thanks to great three-point shooting from Allen Haynes.
New Mexico State led 43-40 with 13:17 left before the Aggies got hot from the field with a 15-5 run over the next five minutes.
Haynes hit two threes in the run and finished with 12 points on the night.
New Orleans (12-9, 5-5 Sun Belt) lost its seventh straight road game.
Hector Romero led the Privateers with 15 points and five rebounds. He also committed seven turnovers.
The Privateers committed 29 turnovers compared to only 17 by the Aggies. The Aggies shot 43 percent for the game and hit 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the second half.
Jason Fontenet chipped in 13 points for the Aggies and Earl Calloway had 10 points and five steals.
Jackson has scored a total of 33 points and grabbed 36 rebounds the last two games for the Aggies.
Justin Lauga had 11 points for New Orleans, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Both teams started the game cold. The Aggies took a 2-0 lead with 18:55 left in the first half but didn’t manage another point until the 14:42 mark.
New Orleans didn’t capitalize though, as they scored only five points in the first seven minutes.
The Privateers actually held a 9-7 lead with 12:01 remaining in the half before the Aggies came together. James Moore prompted a 15-5 run with a blocked shot that led to a Brandon Mason lay-up. Moore then stole the ball on the Privateers next possession and the Aggies scored on a Jackson lay-up.
The Aggies finished the half 14-of-34 after starting out 1-of-6.
The Privateers also shot better as the game wore on, going 8-of-21 after also starting 1-of-6.
New Mexico State moved from fourth to a tie for second place in the Sun Belt’s Western Division behind Louisiana-Lafayette. New Orleans dropped to third.