National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Arizona 83, New Mexico St. 76
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Where: Pan American Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Officials: # David Hall, # Verne Harris, # Randy McCall
Attendance: 7966

Nick Johnson scored a career-high 19 points to lead Arizona to a hard-fought 83-76 victory over host New Mexico State on Tuesday.

Jesse Perry added 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Wildcats (5-2) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Wendell McKines scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Aggies (5-2).

Arizona, which fell out of the national rankings after consecutive losses to Mississippi State and San Diego State, received quite a battle from the Aggies in front of a raucous crowd at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies led 58-56 on Hamidu Rahman’s basket with 11:31 to play before Arizona’s Kyle Fogg responded with a 3-pointer to start a 14-2 run. The Wildcats had a 10-point lead after Josiah Turner hit two free throws with 7:33 remaining.

Christian Kabongo scored seven of his 15 points in an 80-second stretch that pulled the Aggies within 79-76 with 1:04 remaining before Arizona put the game away with four free throws in the final 21 seconds.

Turner and Solomon Hill tallied 12 points apiece for Arizona, and Rahman added 13 points for New Mexico State.

The Aggies came out fast with McKines scoring eight points during a game-opening 10-2 run and never trailed until Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 22-19 lead midway through the half.

Arizona led 44-40 at halftime.
Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   New Mexico St.
Nick Johnson 19 Scoring Wendell McKines 28
Solomon Hill 7 Assists Christian Kabongo 3
Jesse Perry 12 Rebounds Wendell McKines 10
Josiah Turner 6 Free Throws Made Christian Kabongo 7
Josiah Turner 3 Steals Bandja Sy 2
N/A Blocks Wendell McKines 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Arizona 83 51.7 9-21 14-19 19 37 0 3 11
New Mexico St. 76 38.4 4-21 16-23 9 38 3 4 9