LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The CSUB Roadrunners traded shots and leads with WAC-leading New Mexico State Saturday night at the Pan American Center but ran out of answers for the size and depth of the Aggies in a 74-58 loss.

“It was a very physical game out there and I thought our guys had a really good effort but they're a good team and their size bothers us,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “We had some plays that I thought our kids attacked but we have to give them credit they played the way they had to on their home floor... a few calls here, a few shots there and it's a different kind of game but I'm proud of our kids.”

CSUB (10-16, 5-5 WAC) led by as many as seven in the first half after going on a 13-2 run and led for a majority of the frame. The Aggies however started to turn the momentum following a technical foul on Aly Ahmed (Jr., Alexandria, Egypt, Midland CC). Ahmed would not return for the remainder of the game and the Aggies closed out the half on a 10-4 run, holding CSUB to 1-of-5 from the field to end the half leading the 'Runners 35-31.

“Sometimes you have to teach a life-lesson,” Barnes said regarding Ahmed. “I just thought I would go with our other guys, that's going to help us down the road, Aly will learn from this, he's a great kid.”

Turnovers in the game would be the Roadrunners biggest nemesis as they struggled with the size of the Aggies, turning the ball over 16 times which led to 24 points for NM State. Without Ahmed, Kregg Jones (R-Sr., St. Georges, Barbados, Army-Navy Academy) scored a team-high 11 points on 5-of-7 from the field.

The Roadrunners still managed to fight back in the second half, after trailing 52-40 with just over 12 minutes remaining CSUB went on a 7-0 run to pull within five points with just over nine minutes remaining but the Aggies would score 11 of the game's next 14 points to pull way for good, winning their 27th-straight WAC game at the Pan American Center. 

Bakersfield's offense managed plenty of success against the Aggies shooting 44% (22-50) while also shooting 4-of-10 from three-point range. NM State's offense was nearly identical at 24-of-49 from the field but managed separation while taking advantage of the CSUB turnovers and outscoring the 'Runners in the post 26 to 20. CSUB outrebounded NM State 30-29 in the loss.

Kevin Mays (Jr., Queens, N.Y., Odessa CC), Javonte Maynor (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) each added nine points for the Roadrunners while Brent Wrapp (R-Fr., Boulder, Colo., Fairview HS) added eight points, six rebounds and three assists.

With the 1-1 weekend split on the road in WAC play CSUB remains in third place among tournament-eligible teams in the WAC standings following losses by Seattle and Utah Valley on Saturday.

The Roadrunners will return home for a three-game home stand to conclude their home schedule starting Thursday night when CSUB hosts Chicago State at the Icardo Center. The Cougars (6-20, 2-7 WAC) are coming off a 61-50 loss to Kansas City. CSUB will also host Kansas City Saturday night at the Icardo Center as well.

Both games are scheduled for 7 P.M. tipoffs. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.