ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — In a stunning offensive display that defied pregame expectations, the New Mexico Lobos mounted a furious second-half comeback to outlast the Alabama State Hornets 93 to 87 in a non-conference men’s basketball thriller Wednesday night at a raucous Pit.

A crowd of 12,027 witnessed a game of two starkly different halves, with Alabama State riding a torrent of three-point shooting to a commanding 51 to 38 lead at the break before New Mexico stormed back with 55 second-half points to snatch the victory.

The game was a statistical anomaly, with both teams shooting an identical 50 percent from the field and an equally blistering 50 percent from three-point range. The difference ultimately came at the free-throw line, where New Mexico attempted 18 more free throws and converted 27 compared to Alabama State’s 16.

The first half belonged entirely to the visiting Hornets. They came out scorching from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of their 13 three-point attempts before halftime. Guard Asjon Anderson was the catalyst, pouring in 20 of his game-high 30 points in the opening period. His backcourt mate, Micah Simpson, added 12 first-half points as Alabama State consistently carved up the Lobos’ defense, building a lead that stretched to as many as 15 points.

New Mexico looked out of sorts for much of the first half, struggling to contain Alabama State’s perimeter attack and failing to generate consistent offense outside of guard Deyton Albury, who had 10 points at the break.

The script flipped completely after halftime. The Lobos emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, forcing the Hornets into rushed shots and costly turnovers. Alabama State’s three-point magic evaporated, and their offensive rhythm disintegrated.

Fueling the comeback was guard Jake Hall, who caught fire in the second half. After being held relatively quiet early, Hall erupted for 21 of his 24 points after intermission, including a series of clutch three-pointers that energized the home crowd and steadily eroded the deficit.

New Mexico finally clawed back to tie the game midway through the second half and took its first lead since the opening minutes on a Hall three-pointer with just over eight minutes remaining. From there, the game became a tense back-and-forth affair.

Alabama State refused to fold, with Anderson and Simpson, who finished with 18 points, hitting tough shots to keep the Hornets within striking distance. A key sequence came with under a minute to play when a Jerquarius Stanback tip-in brought Alabama State to within two points.

But the Lobos sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds. After a missed free throw by the Hornets, New Mexico’s Uriah Tenette hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to three. Following an Alabama State turnover, Tenette was fouled again and made the first of two, pushing the lead to four and effectively icing the game with just seven seconds left.

Anderson’s 30 points led all scorers for Alabama State, which fell to 3-5 on the season. Simpson contributed 18 points, while Stanback provided a strong interior presence with 13 points and three blocked shots.

For New Mexico, now 5-2, Hall’s 24 points were complemented by 18 points and five assists from Albury. Tenette chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Despite the loss, Alabama State’s offensive efficiency was notable, scoring 87 points on just 70 possessions. New Mexico was slightly more efficient, scoring its 93 points on 74 possessions. The Hornets won the battle in several categories, including assists, steals, and blocks, but their 15 turnovers and inability to get to the free-throw line as frequently as the Lobos proved decisive.

The combined score of 180 points sailed well over the pregame over/under line of 145.5, and New Mexico failed to cover the large 18.5-point spread as a heavy favorite.

Alabama State will look to rebound on the road at Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 7. New Mexico returns to action at The Pit on Dec. 1 to face N.M. Highlands.