LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Jemel Jones scored 24 points and New Mexico State used a dominant first-half offensive display to build an insurmountable lead, cruising past Western Kentucky 80-64 in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies, improving to 9-5 overall, seized control early with a blistering shooting performance in the opening period. They shot 50% from the field and connected on 6 of 12 three-point attempts before halftime, racing to a 46-28 lead at the break. The Hilltoppers, who fell to 9-6, never recovered from the early deficit, struggling with their own shooting throughout the contest.

Jones, a 6-foot-4 guard from Chicago, was the catalyst, hitting 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and adding two assists. His backcourt partner, Elijah Elliott, contributed 12 points, while Kyrese Mullen and Jayland Randall each added 10. The Aggies’ efficiency was stark, scoring 80 points on just 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 110.9, compared to Western Kentucky’s 90.2 rating on 71 possessions.

The most critical stretch of the game came in the first half’s middle stages. Leading 13-10, New Mexico State unleashed a decisive 17-4 run over a five-minute span. Jones ignited the surge with a three-pointer, followed by a Mullen-assisted jumper. After a Western Kentucky timeout, Jones struck again from deep, and Mullen capped the run with another three-pointer, pushing the Aggies’ lead to 30-14. The Hilltoppers’ offense, plagued by poor shot selection and aggressive Aggie defense, managed just one field goal during the entire run.

Western Kentucky shot a frigid 30.9% from the field for the game, making only 5 of 22 three-point attempts. Armelo Boone led the Hilltoppers with 13 points, and Kade Unseld added eight off the bench. Despite winning the rebounding battle 45-40 and committing only five turnovers to New Mexico State’s 11, the Hilltoppers could not overcome their shooting woes.

New Mexico State also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 26 of 34 attempts, while Western Kentucky went 17 for 23. The Aggies’ ball movement, though resulting in only four total assists, generated high-quality looks, particularly from the perimeter where they finished 10 for 23.

Western Kentucky showed brief signs of life in the second half, cutting the lead to 15 on several occasions, but each mini-run was answered by the Aggies. A technical foul on the Western Kentucky bench with 11:25 remaining led to two Jones free throws, and a subsequent three-pointer by Randall extended the lead back to 62-49, effectively sealing the outcome.

A crowd of 2,612 watched the Aggies snap a two-game conference losing streak. New Mexico State next hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Western Kentucky, which had its two-game winning streak halted, continues its road trip at UTEP on Saturday.