LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Jemel Jones scored 21 points to lead New Mexico State to a 67-63 men’s basketball victory over UTEP on Saturday at Pan American Center. The Aggies improved to 13-13 overall, while the Miners fell to 10-17. New Mexico State built a 35-25 halftime lead and held off a second-half push from UTEP. The Aggies capitalized on advantages in fast-break points and points off turnovers. Jamal West led UTEP with 22 points and Caleb Blackwell added 18. The Miners drew even at 63 on a Blackwell 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining, but Jones hit a decisive jumper with 24 seconds left and made free throws to seal the win before an announced crowd of 7,606.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive-minded contest defined by critical plays in the final minute, New Mexico State edged UTEP 67-63 in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday night at the Pan American Center. A crowd of 7,606 saw the Aggies, who led for over 37 minutes, withstand a furious second-half rally by the Miners before securing the victory at the free-throw line in the closing seconds. The win avenged a 91-88 overtime loss to UTEP just two weeks prior and evened New Mexico State’s overall record at 13-13. UTEP fell to 10-17. The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final 24 seconds with the score tied at 63. New Mexico State’s Jemel Jones, who led all scorers with 21 points, received the ball on the right wing, drove into the lane and sank a contested pull-up jumper with 24 seconds remaining to put the Aggies ahead 65-63. UTEP called a timeout to advance the ball and set up a play, but the ensuing inbounds pass was deflected out of bounds off a Miner with 14 seconds left. After another timeout, UTEP was forced to foul. Jones was sent to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with 12 seconds on the clock and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 67-63. The Miners’ final attempt, a desperation three-pointer by Kaseem Watson, missed as time expired. The contest was a stark contrast to the teams’ previous high-scoring meeting. Both offenses struggled for consistency, combining for just four assists total. New Mexico State’s efficiency proved slightly higher, posting an offensive rating of 112.9 points per 100 possessions compared to UTEP’s 104.7. The Aggies capitalized on UTEP’s mistakes, scoring nine points off six Miner turnovers while committing only three turnovers themselves. New Mexico State built its lead in the first half behind a balanced attack and superior work on the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points. The Aggies led 35-25 at halftime, holding UTEP to 36% shooting from the field in the opening period. UTEP stormed back in the second half, spearheaded by Jamal West and Caleb Blackwell. West, a 6-foot-6 forward from Baltimore, scored 16 of his team-high 22 points after intermission, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Blackwell, a guard from Buford, Georgia, added 18 points, including two crucial three-pointers during the Miner comeback. The Miners finally drew even at 63 on a Blackwell three-pointer assisted by West with 1 minute, 31 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Jones’ late-game heroics. Beyond Jones’ 21 points, which included three three-pointers, three assists and three blocks, New Mexico State received 12 points from Jae’Coby Osborne. Augustine Ekwe provided a strong interior presence with six points, five offensive rebounds and a block. For UTEP, West’s 22-point, 38-minute effort was complemented by Blackwell’s 18. Elijah Jones, despite scoring only five points, contributed defensively with a block and several key rebounds. The Aggies dominated inside, outscoring UTEP 32-22 in the paint and outrebounding them 13-7 on the offensive glass. The Miners stayed close by shooting 84.6% from the free-throw line, but their 29.6% shooting from three-point range and season-low two assists hampered their offensive flow. Both teams continue Conference USA play on the road Thursday. New Mexico State travels to face Western Kentucky, while UTEP heads to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee.

UTEP, New Mexico State Set for Conference USA Rematch LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — A tightly contested conference rivalry will be renewed Saturday when the New Mexico State Aggies host the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA men’s basketball game at the Pan American Center. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Feb. 7 overtime thriller in El Paso, where UTEP (10-16, 4-7 CUSA) edged New Mexico State (12-13, 5-6) 91-88. The Aggies will look to defend their home court and split the season series. UTEP arrives having lost four of its last five, including a 73-64 home loss to Liberty last Saturday. The Miners are led by guard Elijah Jones, who is averaging 15.4 points over his last seven games. He scored 17 points in the first meeting against the Aggies. New Mexico State enters with momentum after a 79-70 road victory at Jacksonville State last Saturday. Aggies forward Julius Mims dominated the glass in that win, pulling down 17 rebounds to go with 13 points. Mims, who averages a double-double over his last five contests, will be a key factor against a UTEP team that has struggled with consistency. While UTEP holds the more recent head-to-head victory, the Aggies have been stronger at home this season. Both teams are jockeying for position in the conference standings with the regular season winding down, adding stakes to the intrastate showdown. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. MST tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Pan American Center in University Park.