HADLEY, Ky. (Interstat) — Western Kentucky, fueled by a blistering start and a balanced scoring attack, never trailed and cruised to a 93-70 victory over New Mexico State in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Thursday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers, improving to 17-11 overall, overwhelmed the Aggies from the opening tip, building a 22-point halftime lead and maintaining a comfortable double-digit advantage throughout the second half before a crowd of 3,847. New Mexico State fell to 13-14 with the loss.

The most important part of the game was its opening sequence, which effectively decided the contest within the first four minutes. Western Kentucky established immediate and total control, starting the game on a 12-0 run and forcing New Mexico State into a timeout just two minutes and two seconds into play. The Aggies did not score their first points until the 15:22 mark of the first half, by which time the Hilltoppers had already built a commanding 12-point cushion.

That early dominance was orchestrated by the backcourt duo of Terrion Murdix and LJ Hackman. Murdix, a senior from Springfield, Illinois, dished out three assists in the opening flurry, setting up Grant Newell and Hackman for scores. Hackman, a junior from Columbus, Mississippi, scored six quick points, including a three-point play, to ignite the home crowd and set the tone for the evening. New Mexico State, meanwhile, opened the game with two turnovers and three missed shots, digging a hole from which it never recovered.

Western Kentucky’s offensive execution in the first half was clinical. The Hilltoppers shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on Aggie mistakes, turning defense into easy offense. By the time the first media timeout arrived, the lead was 14-2, and it only grew from there. The Hilltopper advantage ballooned to as many as 24 points in the period before settling at 48-26 at the intermission.

New Mexico State showed more fight after halftime, scoring 44 points in the second half, but could never mount a serious threat. Every time the Aggies managed a small run, Western Kentucky answered promptly, often with a three-pointer or an easy basket in transition. The Hilltopper lead never dipped below 17 points in the final 20 minutes.

Teagan Moore, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, led all scorers with 23 points for Western Kentucky, showcasing an efficient all-around game. Forward Grant Newell, a 6-foot-9 junior from Chicago, added 18 points, while guard Ryan Myers, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, chipped in 17. Murdix finished with a game-high seven assists to go with his defensive pressure. Hackman rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.

For New Mexico State, forward Julius Mims, a 6-foot-9 junior from Billings, Montana, led the way with 13 points. Guard Jayland Randall, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Detroit, contributed 10 points off the bench. The Aggies’ interior defense received a boost from Augustine Ekwe, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Lagos, Nigeria, who blocked three shots in just 11 minutes of action.

The victory was a measure of revenge for Western Kentucky, which had lost to New Mexico State 80-64 in Las Cruces on Jan. 8. The win also continued a positive trend for the Hilltoppers, who have now won four of their last five games. New Mexico State, which had won two straight coming into the contest, saw that modest streak snapped decisively.

Western Kentucky will look to carry the momentum into its next game, a home matchup against UTEP on Saturday. New Mexico State, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Middle Tennessee on Saturday as it seeks to get back to the .500 mark in conference play.