FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — The Tulsa Golden Hurricane used a dominant first half to defeat the New Mexico State Aggies 83-70 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Dr Pepper Arena. Tulsa built a 49-27 halftime lead and withstood a stronger second-half push from New Mexico State, which scored 43 points after the break. The victory improved Tulsa’s season record to 10-1, while New Mexico State fell to 6-3. Attendance was 1,342. Tulsa had been a 4.5-point pregame favorite, and the total score went over the projected line of 147.5.

FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — A blistering first-half offensive display from Tulsa proved too much for New Mexico State to overcome as the Golden Hurricane rolled to an 83-70 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Dr Pepper Arena. Tulsa, improving to 10-1 on the season, seized control early with a torrent of three-point shooting and efficient offense, building a 22-point halftime lead that the Aggies could only marginally dent after the break. The Golden Hurricane shot a scorching 12 of 27 from beyond the arc for the game and capitalized on 29 free throws to keep New Mexico State at arm’s length. The most important part of the game was Tulsa’s dominant first-half performance, which established an insurmountable cushion. The Golden Hurricane erupted for 49 points before halftime, fueled by a 7-of-14 effort from three-point range. Guard Tylen Riley was the catalyst, scoring 17 of his game-high 29 points in the opening period. His back-to-back three-pointers midway through the half, part of a larger 17-4 run, stretched a modest lead into a 28-11 advantage from which New Mexico State never recovered. New Mexico State, which fell to 6-3, showed resilience after intermission, outscoring Tulsa 43-34 in the second half. The Aggies trimmed the deficit to 12 points on multiple occasions, the last coming at 64-52 with just over nine minutes remaining after a three-pointer from Anthony Wrzeszcz. Each time, however, Tulsa had an answer, usually from the free-throw line or a timely three to halt the momentum. Riley, a junior from Las Vegas, Nevada, finished with 29 points and five assists in 32 minutes, orchestrating the Tulsa attack. Miles Barnstable added 14 points, while Ade Popoola and Myles Rigsby chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Tulsa’s offensive rating of 119.2 points per 100 possessions underscored its efficiency, as it matched New Mexico State’s 70 possessions but generated 13 more points. The Aggies were led by Julius Mims with 16 points and Jemel Jones with 14 points, four assists and a block. Cyr Malonga added 13 points and a block. New Mexico State struggled to find consistent offense, shooting just 39.3% from the field and committing 10 turnovers against only eight assists. Their second-half push was fueled by improved defense, forcing eight of Tulsa’s 14 turnovers after halftime, but they could not string together enough stops and scores to seriously threaten. Tulsa’s balance was key. Beyond Riley’s scoring, the Golden Hurricane shared the ball effectively, with five players recording at least three assists. They also dominated at the charity stripe, making 29 of 35 attempts compared to New Mexico State’s 18 of 26. The game, part of a multi-team event, was played before a crowd of 1,342. Tulsa entered as a 4.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined score of 153 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 147.5. New Mexico State will look to rebound when it hosts Sam Houston on Dec. 21. Tulsa, riding a three-game winning streak, travels to face Western Kentucky on Dec. 19.

Preview: New Mexico State Faces Tulsa in Frisco Showdown FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — Two teams riding opposite momentum waves will meet Saturday when the New Mexico State Aggies face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a non-conference men’s basketball clash at Dr Pepper Arena. Tulsa (9-1) enters as one of the nation’s hottest teams, having won nine straight since a season-opening one-point road loss to Kansas State. The Golden Hurricane’s offense has been explosive, averaging 90.2 points during their win streak, including a 117-point outburst against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 10. Leading that charge is guard Jaylen Lawal, who is coming off a 20-point, four-assist performance in just 18 minutes off the bench. Lawal provides efficient scoring punch, having reached double figures in five of his last six games. New Mexico State (6-2) looks to rebound from its first skid of the season, back-to-back narrow road losses at South Alabama (77-75) and Abilene Christian (77-69). The Aggies’ success hinges heavily on guard Jemel Jones, who has been a consistent offensive force. Jones averages 15.4 points per game and is coming off a 19-point effort in the loss to Abilene Christian, his fourth game with 17 or more points in the last six outings. The matchup presents a classic contrast. Tulsa’s high-octane, deep offense will test an Aggies squad that has shown resilience but struggled recently to close out tight games. New Mexico State will need to control the tempo and find scoring beyond Jones to keep pace. For Tulsa, this game serves as a final major non-conference test before American Athletic Conference play begins next month. For New Mexico State, it’s a critical opportunity to right the ship against a quality opponent before returning home. Saturday’s winner will gain significant momentum as the calendar prepares to turn toward conference competition. Tipoff is set for Dec. 13 at Dr Pepper Arena, a neutral site in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.