LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Pan Am Center was rocking as the Western New Mexico University Men's Basketball team battled D1 New Mexico State University (NMSU). The Mustangs would hang around until the final three minutes, losing 99-75 to the Aggies. 

Three Mustangs finished in double-digits against the Aggies. Keith Littles (Augusta, GA/) led the Mustangs with 14 points on 6-13 from the field. Joshuwan Johnson (Phoenix, AZ/Maricopa High School) added 13 points, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) scored 11 points, going 5-5 from the charity stripe.

The three ball and rebound battle provided to be the advantage for the Aggies, as they shot 13-24 (54%) compared to the Mustangs 7-26 (27%). Outside of Johnson, the Mustangs combined 4-21 from behind the arc. The Aggies out rebounded the Mustangs 37-24.

Both teams managed to get the free throw line, with the Mustangs shooting a better clip than the Aggies. WNMU would shoot 10-13 (77%) from the line, while NMSU visited the charity stripe 22 times, only make 14 (64%). The Mustangs gave the ball away 15 times, but managed to turnover the Aggies 17 times, scoring 17 off those turnover. 

Olamide Pedersen (Bronshoj, Denmark/Sunrise Christian Academy) lead the Mustangs on the glass wit 10 boards. Littles, Avalos and De'Angelo Ware (Evansville, IN/) lead the Mustangs with three assists each. 

In the first half the Mustangs shot the ball at 43% and 25% from three. The Mustangs would finish 43% from the field and 27% from three-point range. NMSU shot the ball extremely well, hitting 59% of their shots and 54% from three.

WNMU went into halftime trailing 48-35. The Mustangs would come out in the second half slowly chipping away at the deficit. The Aggies lead would get trimmed all the way to 10 with three minutes to go before they unleashed a barrage of threes to put the final nail in the coffin on the Mustangs.

Four Aggies managed to score double digits on the Mustangs. Deshawndre Washington lead all scores with 21 points, going 8-11 from the field. Washington also added seven boards and nine assists for the Aggies. Issa Muhammad added 15 points and eight rebounds. Dajuan Gordon scored 14 points, including 4-6 from beyond the arc. Kyle Feit finished with 12 points, all from three-point range. 

Top Players:
Keith Littles (Augusta, GA/): 14 pts, 3 ast, (6-13 FGs)
Joshuwan Johnson (Phoenix, AZ/Maricopa High School): 13 pts, (3-5 3FGs)
Olamide Pedersen (Bronshoj, Denmark/Sunrise Christian Academy): 8 pts, 10 reb, (4-7 FGs)
Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS): 11 pts, 3 ast (3-6 FGs)

The Mustangs will open up the regular season on November 11th from the Conference Crossover in Silver City, NM. WNMU will host RMAC schools Westminster on Friday and Adams State the following Saturday. 

This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!  

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 Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter, TikTok & Instagram).