BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - New Mexico State shot 55% from the field and added 61% from three-point range as they sent the CSUB Roadrunners to their second Western Athletic Conference loss 70-54 Thursday night at the Icardo Center.

The 'Runners benefitted from the return of leading scorer Aly Ahmed (Jr., Alexandria, Egypt, Midland CC) who played for the first time in three weeks scoring a team-high 18 points and adding 10 rebounds as he notched his fourth double-double of the season. Kevin Mays (Jr., Queens, N.Y., Odessa CC) also contributed to CSUB's post scoring with a career-high 18 points as well. Bakersfield matched the post play of the Aggies but struggled on the wing, where New Mexico State made the difference.

“”I thought they (NM State) shot the ball extremely well, something they haven't done well lately,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “I thought our inside guys held their own, they did a really good job battling on the boards and getting us inside baskets I thought it was a good battle there.”

The Aggies took the lead for good with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half, breaking a 12-12 tie with an eruption from three-point range by Ian Baker who made three-consecutive three-pointers to give NM State a 21-12 lead. They would extend the run to 10-0 with a Tshilidzi Nephawe free throw.

The Roadrunners trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but again were able to work the ball inside to cut the Aggies lead to 35-27 at the half. NM State built that lead again back up to 13 points within the first five minutes of the second half and the Roadrunners would cut the lead to eight points on two occasions, but that is as close as they would come as the Aggies managed timely perimeter shooting to maintain the second half advantage. They were 21-of-38 from the field and 8-of-13 from three-point range.

NM State was led by Remi Barry's 20 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. Ian Baker added 19 sparked by a 4-of-6 night from beyond the arc. The Roadrunners outscored the Aggies in the paint 40-26, a rare feat for many teams, but CSUB struggled elsewhere from the field an perimeter going just 1-of-10 from three-point range while the Roadrunners guards were a combined 5-of-24 from the field.

“I thought our problem was we didn't defend well enough outside the post,” Barnes said. “We didn't do a good job of help and getting back to our guy we stayed down there (the post) too long and we kind of missed a few assignments and put ourselves in a bad position not doing what we needed to do.”

CSUB continues WAC play Saturday night hosting UT Pan American at the Icardo Center. The Broncs are 1-1 in WAC play having lost Saturday night at Seattle 70-47. Tickets are available for Saturday's game at Vallitix.com.