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Albuquerque, N.M. • Utah State scored a confidence-building victory in a most unlikely place Saturday.

Jalen Moore scored 19 points and Chris Smith added 13 to lead the Aggies to a 63-60 win over New Mexico at the Pit, where the Lobos have been almost unbeatable over the years.

In this game, Utah State built a 56-46 with 7:47 remaining and held on down the stretch to snap a two-game losing streak and win in Albuquerque for the first time since 1979.

The Aggies appeared to break away midway through the second half, when they hit four straight shots during a 9-2 run that gave them their 10-point lead.

Over the next five minutes, however, Utah State managed only two free throws.

Still, the Aggies owned a 63-57 lead on Moore's breakaway dunk with 2:11 left to play, setting the stage for New Mexico's final charge.

After a timeout, the Lobos' Hugh Greenwood ran off a baseline screen and buried a 3-pointer from the corner. Utah State followed by running down the shot clock and settling for Darius Perkins' long 3-pointer, which missed.

On the other end, Greenwood missed a 3-pointer before the Aggies again failed to get a clean look at the basket. Smith's long two-point jumper missed.

The Lobos rebounded and got Utah State's defense scrambling. They ended up with two open 3-pointers, but Devon Williams and Tim Jacobs missed.

David Collette rebounded and passed to Perkins, who was fouled with eight-tenths of a second left. He missed a free throw but New Mexico could get off another shot.

The win bumped Utah State's record to 13-10 overall and 6-5 in the Mountain West. It also improved coach Stew Morrill's record in Logan to 397-153. He needs three more victories to reach 400 in 17 seasons with the Aggies.

The game began ominously for Utah State.

After freshman Julion Pearre gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead, Collette picked up a foul on New Mexico's first possession. It was 8-6 with 14:30 minutes remaining in the half when Collette was called for his second foul and went to the bench.

New Mexico took advantage of the situation by hitting four straight shots and using a 9-2 run to build a 17-8 lead.

At that point, Morrill rolled the dice. Collette returned despite his foul trouble and the Aggies responded. They converted five consecutive possessions, including a monstrous drive-and-dunk by Collette, to stay in the game.

Satisfied the Lobos weren't going to run away and hide, Morrill took out Collette again with over five minutes left. Utah State eventually got to the half with a 33-30 lead.

Smith had 10 points by intermission, including a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left and another as time expired. New Mexico, which slipped to 14-9 overall and 6-5 in the Mountain West, never led in the second half. —

Storylines

R Sophomore forward Jalen Moore scores 19 points to lead Utah State

• Chris Smith adds 13 as the Aggies improve to 13-10 overall and 6-5 in the Mountain West

• Utah State builds 10-point lead with 7:47 remaining before holding off a UNM rally