JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — On a night when efficiency proved decisive, the New Mexico State Aggies parlayed a dominant performance on the glass and a parade to the free-throw line into a 79-70 victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The Aggies, who entered as underdogs according to both the betting line and advanced metrics, improved to 12-13 overall by winning the possession battle and capitalizing on their opportunities. New Mexico State scored 79 points on just 65 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 122.1, while Jacksonville State managed only 70 points on 69 trips, a rating of 101.4.

The most important part of the game was New Mexico State’s second-half surge, fueled by defensive stops and transition offense. After leading 32-29 at halftime in a tightly contested opening period, the Aggies opened the second half with a decisive 15-4 run over the first five minutes. The burst was highlighted by aggressive drives and finishes at the rim, extending their lead to 47-33 and forcing multiple Jacksonville State timeouts. The Gamecocks, despite committing only two turnovers in the entire game, could never consistently string together stops to mount a sustained comeback, as the Aggies’ lead never dipped below six points the rest of the way.

Julius Mims, a 6-foot-9 forward from Billings, Montana, was the top star for New Mexico State, anchoring the effort with a monstrous double-double. He played 32 minutes and finished with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends. His work helped the Aggies to a 44-33 overall rebounding advantage, including eight offensive boards that led to crucial second chances.

He was complemented by a backcourt scoring punch. Jemel Jones of Chicago scored 16 points in 27 minutes, while reserve guard Jayland Randall provided a massive spark off the bench. The Detroit native played only 12 minutes but poured in a game-high 20 points, shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range. Elijah Elliott of Houston added 12 points and four assists.

Jacksonville State, which fell to 13-12, was led by JaCoby Hill of Phenix City, Alabama, who scored 21 points. Marcus Fitzgerald of Nashville contributed 14 points, and AC Bryant of Shreveport, Louisiana, added 11. The Gamecocks struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 36.9% on 24-of-65 shooting, and were outscored 27-16 in fastbreak points.

While Jacksonville State won the turnover battle decisively, committing only two compared to New Mexico State’s seven, the Aggies’ advantages in other areas were overwhelming. New Mexico State attempted 31 free throws, making 26, while Jacksonville State went 13-of-19 from the line. The Aggies also shot a higher percentage from the floor (43.1% to 36.9%) and from three-point range (37.5% to 34.6%).

The game drew an attendance of 894. New Mexico State will next host UTEP on Feb. 21. Jacksonville State travels to face Louisiana Tech on Feb. 18.