Balanced Aggies blitz Chippewas, 78-49

ANCHORAGE – Wendell McKines had 13 points and 12 rebounds Thursday to lead a balanced New Mexico State effort as the Aggies rolled to a 78-49 victory over Central Michigan in the opening round of the men's Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska shootout at Sullivan Arena.

The Aggies (4-0) also got a game-high 15 points from reserve forward Bandja Sy to remain perfect in four games all-time in the Shootout. NMSU was the 1992 Shootout champion in its first trip to The Last Frontier.

The Chippewas (3-2) were led by 14 points and five assists from guard Austin McBroom, while backcourt mate Trey Zeigler had 12 points and five rebounds.

NMSU jumped out quickly to a 12-2 lead and was never challenged, also getting 12 points and three assists from guard Christian Kabongo. Kabongo shot 8 of 8 at the free-throw line as the Aggies dominated at the stripe, making 35 of 49 (.714) to CMU's 9 of 17 (.529). The 49 attempts were just five shy of the tournament record 54 by Alaska Anchorage against Penn State in the inaugural tourney in 1978.

NMSU also won the rebounding battle, 54-35, thanks to McKines and starting center Hamidu Rahman, who grabbed nine caroms. All 10 Aggies scored at least three points, and NMSU enjoyed a 33-9 advantage in bench scoring.

The Aggies move on to face the winner of next contest, between UC Irvine and Southern Mississippi, in Friday's 8 p.m. semifinal, while the Chippewas will play the UCI-USM loser Friday at 2 p.m. in the consolation semis.

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