College Basketball

Utah State beats New Mexico 80-72 to end 5-game skid

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:47 p.m. ET

foxsports

LOGAN, Utah (AP) Chris Smith scored 19 points, including 7 of 8 free throws, and Utah State beat New Mexico 80-72 on Tuesday night, ending a five-game skid.

Lew Evans added 15 points, Jalen Moore 11 and the Aggies (12-11, 4-8 Mountain West) made 21 of 28 free throws. Quinn Taylor grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.

Trailing by eight at halftime, New Mexico scored six quick points to open the second half, but the Aggies replied with a 12-6 run and led 55-46 with 10:34 left on Julion Pearre's 3-pointer.

New Mexico rallied to within 77-71 on Xavier Adams' free throw with 2:47 to go, but got no closer. The Aggies made three free throws in the final 56 seconds and the Lobos finished with 22 personal fouls.

Elijah Brown scored 22 points and Tim Williams added a season-high 21 for New Mexico (14-10, 7-4), which lost in Logan for the first time since Feb. 2, 1962.