New Mexico State 66, Idaho 50

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico State guard Mike Mitchell,

playing in his last home game as an Aggie, helped ignite a furious

second-half rally to lead New Mexico State to a 66-50 win over

Idaho Saturday night.

Mitchell scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and added

three steals as New Mexico State (15-12, 10-5) moved into second

place in the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Aggies

outscored the Vandals 39-9 in the final 17 minutes of the game.

The Aggies trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half

before mounting the rally. Idaho (4-22, 1-13) led 41-27 with 17:14

to play when Mitchell scored five quick points on a driving shot

and a 3-point play.

A 3-pointer and a layup by Mitchell brought the Aggies to within

one before Shaun Davis put New Mexico State in the lead for good

with a 3-pointer with 10:27 left to play.

Tyrone Nelson led New Mexico State with a game-high 21 points

and added nine rebounds, while Davis added 14 points and had two

steals.

Tanoris Shepard led Idaho with 13 points, while Keoni Watson

added 11 before fouling out with 8:41 to play.

The Vandals shot 54 percent from the field in the first half and

led by as many as 11 in the first 20 minutes. After leading 33-23

at halftime, Idaho went cold and sank only 6-of-21 field goals in

the second half for 28.6 percent.

The Aggies managed only 36 percent shooting in the first half

and warmed up to 53 percent in the second half.

New Mexico State lost its second leading scorer, Elijah Ingram,

to a hamstring injury early in the second half. Ingram failed to

score, going 0-for-4 before leaving the game.