ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) San Diego State's stifling defense and Aqeel Quinn's 20 points were enough to give the Aztecs a 63-46 victory over New Mexico Tuesday.
San Diego State (21-6, 11-3 Mountain West) held the Lobos (14-12, 6-8) to its second worst shooting night of the season at 17-55 (30.9 percent) as they lost their fifth straight.
The Aztecs, who have won six of seven, held New Mexico to 29.8 percent when the teams met in San Diego last month.
The game started slow with the teams going a combined 2-for-22 in the opening minutes.
But after Hugh Greenwood's 3-pointer for New Mexico tied it at 7-7, San Diego State went on a 19-4 run behind six points from Winston Shepard and five from Malik Pope, who finished with 16 off the bench.
The Aztecs limited New Mexico to one field goal over a stretch of 11:20 in the first half, but the Lobos scored the half's final five points to make it 31-18.
Skylar Spencer played a leading role on the interior for San Diego State with four blocks and 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
New Mexico closed to within nine points to start the second half, but a 12-4 Aztecs' run capped by Quinn's 15-foot jumper, pushed the San Diego State lead to 45-28 with 11:52 left and signaled the start of the Lobos' fans exit from the arena.
Greenwood led New Mexico with 12 points and Sam Logwood added 10 for the Lobos.
TIP INS
San Diego State has won six of the last 10 meetings at the Pit, an arena in which New Mexico owns a 142-24 (85.5 percent) record during that span.
New Mexico's leading scorer Deshawn Delaney didn't score until hitting a leaner with 9:31 left in the second half. He equaled his season low with 3 points.
THE PITS
The loss was New Mexico's largest at home since losing 70-49 to BYU on Jan. 24, 2007.
UP NEXT
New Mexico is at home Saturday against UNLV.
San Diego State plays Saturday at San Jose State.
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