LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and dominance in the paint, the New Mexico State Aggies remained undefeated Friday night by fending off a persistent Samford Bulldogs squad 81-72 before a crowd of 4,484 at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies improved their season record to 4-0, while Samford fell to 3-4.

New Mexico State seized control early, opening the game on a 10-2 run fueled by a Julius Mims three-pointer and a layup, along with an Anthony Wrzeszcz triple. The Aggies never relinquished the lead, consistently answering any Samford push with a scoring run of their own. They took a 40-32 advantage into halftime and maintained a comfortable, if not commanding, margin throughout the second half.

The story of the game was told in the shooting percentages. New Mexico State was ruthlessly efficient from the floor, connecting on 31 of 57 field goal attempts for a 54.4 percent clip. Samford, by contrast, struggled to find a consistent rhythm, shooting 24 of 60 for 40 percent. The Aggies’ offensive rating of 127.4 on 64 possessions dwarfed the Bulldogs’ mark of 112.5 on the same number of trips.

A massive disparity in points in the paint further highlighted the Aggies’ offensive strategy, as they outscored Samford 46-24 near the basket. New Mexico State also capitalized on its limited three-point opportunities, making 7 of 16 from beyond the arc, while Samford launched 30 threes, making only eight.

Julius Mims, a 6-foot-9 forward from Billings, Montana, was the catalyst for the Aggies, leading all scorers with 17 points in 26 minutes of action. His inside presence and early scoring set the tone. He was complemented by a balanced attack that saw Jayland Randall of Detroit and Kyrese Mullen of Norfolk, Virginia, each chip in 10 points. Gabe Pickens of Phoenix orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out a game-high eight assists.

Samford was led by the backcourt duo of Kam Martin and Zion Willburn. Martin, from Montgomery County, Maryland, scored 17 points, while Willburn, of Richmond, California, added 15 points and recorded a block. The Bulldogs were hampered by a lack of ball movement, registering only four total assists as a team. However, they were exceptionally careful with the basketball, committing a mere three turnovers, half of New Mexico State’s total of six.

The Bulldogs hung around by getting to the free-throw line and converting, making 16 of 21 attempts. Willburn was a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. Despite their ball security and free-throw shooting, Samford could never mount a sustained run to close the gap in the second half, as the Aggies’ efficient offense always had a response.

The victory keeps New Mexico State perfect on the young season as they prepare for a road test at UC Irvine on Tuesday. Samford, looking to get back to .500, will travel to face Georgia State, also on Tuesday. The final combined score of 153 fell well above the pregame over/under line of 144.5, and the Aggies covered the spread after being installed as 8.5-point favorites.