Jaelen House, No. 25 UNM race away from San Jose State
Jan 20, 2024; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; New Mexico Lobos head coach Richard Pitino looks on in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. credits: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Jaelen House scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, hitting two 3-pointers in a key run, to lead No. 25 New Mexico to a 95-75 victory over host San Jose State on Wednesday night.
After San Jose State cut what was a 20-point deficit to 75-66 with 6:12 left, House's 3-pointers on consecutive possession capped an 8-0 run to help New Mexico pull away.
The Lobos (17-3, 5-2 Mountain West) are on a four-game winning streak, all double-digit triumphs in conference games.
The last time the Lobos achieved such a feat was in the 2011-12 season.
Donovan Dent and Jamal Mashburn Jr. each had 17 points, JT Toppin finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Nelly Junior Joseph had 10 points for New Mexico.
San Jose State (8-11, 1-5) lost for the fifth time in the past six games.
The Spartans were led by Myron Amey Jr.'s 24 points and nine rebounds. Tibert Gorener added 12 points, and Diogo Seixas had 10.
New Mexico led by as many as 16 points in the first half before taking a 43-32 lead into halftime.
A 13-3 run capped by House's 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in the half gave the Lobos a 43-27 lead.
A layup by Seixas and a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer by Amey allowed San Jose State to cut the gap to 11.
A dunk by Amey with 12:43 remaining pulled the Spartans within 61-52.
New Mexico boosted its lead to 75-60 with 7:47 remaining after four consecutive free throws made by Joseph and Mustapha Amzil.
San Jose State scored six unanswered points to slice the difference to 75-66 with 6:12 left before Toppin's layup ended New Mexico's field-goal drought with 5:36 remaining.
The Lobos had not made a shot from the field from 9:41 left until Toppin's basket.
House then connected on 3-pointers on consecutive possession to increase New Mexico's lead to 83-66 with 4:39 remaining.
House made 6 of 15 shots from the field but was 4 of 8 in the second half. He made 3 of 4 from beyond the arc after halftime.
Mashburn contributed 10 points in the second half.
—Field Level Media