Vandals drop close one at N. Mexico St.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Daniel Mullings scored only seven points all game but came up big when his team needed him most, hitting a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to give New Mexico State the lead for good in a 76-74 win over Idaho on Thursday night.

Kevin Aronis' 3-pointer gave New Mexico State (16-8, 10-2 Western Athletic Conference) a 67-56 lead with 6:14 remaining in the game, but the Vandals responded with an 18-7 run capped off by Connor Hill's 3-pointer to tie it at 74 with 1 minute to go.

The former Post Falls High standout finished with 21 points.

Sim Bhullar scored 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Aggies, which shot 53.6 percent from the field. Bandja Sy had nine points and 15 rebounds. Renaldo Dixon and Terrel de Rouen scored 12 points apiece.

Kyle Barone had 26 points to lead Idaho (9-13, 5-7) in scoring.

Idaho plays at Denver on Saturday.

IDAHO (9-13)

Faines 0-3 0-0 0, Barone 10-19 6-8 26, Habeeb 0-5 2-2 2, C. Hill 6-9 6-8 21, McChristian 4-7 2-2 12, Harris Jr. 0-1 0-0 0, Douglas 2-2 0-0 4, Borton 0-0 0-0 0, Madison 3-6 1-1 9, Kammerer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 17-21 74.

NEW MEXICO ST. (16-8)

Sy 4-11 1-2 9, Dixon 5-7 1-1 12, Bhullar 8-8 4-7 20, de Rouen 5-8 0-0 12, Mullings 2-10 2-2 7, Barry 3-6 0-0 7, Aronis 3-6 0-0 9. Totals 30-56 8-12 76.

Halftime_New Mexico St. 36-35. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 7-12 (C. Hill 3-4, Madison 2-3, McChristian 2-4, Harris Jr. 0-1), New Mexico St. 8-18 (Aronis 3-6, de Rouen 2-4, Dixon 1-1, Barry 1-3, Mullings 1-3, Sy 0-1). Fouled Out_Madison. Rebounds_Idaho 28 (Barone 7), New Mexico St. 32 (Sy 15). Assists_Idaho 10 (McChristian 3), New Mexico St. 17 (Mullings, Sy, de Rouen 4). Total Fouls_Idaho 14, New Mexico St. 14. A_5,675.