Wendell McKines scored a career-high 23 points and added 13 rebounds in New Mexico State's 89-73 victory over UTEP on Saturday.
Christian Kabongo, Hernst Laroche and Bandja Sy each scored 15 points for the Aggies (3-0). Tshilidzi Nephawe added 12 points and five rebounds.
D'Von Campbell and John Bohannon led the Miners (1-2) with 11 points each, and Cedrick Lang scored 10.
NMSU led by four at halftime and outscored UTEP 24-6 in the first 8:16 of the second half to build a 66-44 lead. UTEP closed to 74-64, but the Aggies closed the game out by shooting 11 of 15 from the foul line in the last 4:44.
UTEP led by as many as four in the first half, but the Aggies took the lead for good at 33-32 on a Sy 3-pointer with 4:33 left. NMSU was 6 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half.
