ALBURQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Cameron Bairstow scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Saturday and New Mexico won 63-54, handing Cincinnati its first loss of the season.
New Mexico (7-1) took a 6-4 lead on a free throw by Bairstow at 17:36 and pulled away by as many as 14 to take a 27-20 halftime lead. Cincinnati (7-1) shot just 26.7 percent from the field in the half.
Cincinnati rallied in the second half, and Sean Kilpatrick made it a 2-point game at 35-33 on free throws at 15:01, but Bairstow replied with a layup and Alex Kirk added a dunk and the Lobos pulled away 41-33. Cincinnati pulled to within five, but another New Mexico run put the game out of reach.
Alex Kirk scored 15 for New Mexico and Kendall Williams added 10.
Sean Kilpatrick led Cincinnati with 19 points, Troy Caupain scored 11 and Justin Jackson added 10.
