IRVINE, Calif. – The New Mexico State Aggies had three players in double figures, outrebounded and outshot the UC Irvine Anteaters on Saturday night, but the Anteaters went on an 8-0 run to close the game and swipe a 54-52 win from the Aggies at the Bren Events Center.
 
UCI forward Mike Best buried a well-defensed jumper with 19.3 seconds remaining that spelled the difference.
 
The Aggies (8-7) chance for a game-winning shot came up short and allowed the Anteaters (11-5) to take the comeback win. NM State was held scoreless for the final 2:58 of the contest.
 
"I'm really proud of my guys, I thought they played a very good game," said NM State coach Marvin Menzies. "I thought defensively we were awesome. We just couldn't get into a flow offensively, and unfortunately for us, that was the deciding factor. When we needed a bucket late we just couldn't get one."
 
NM State was paced by the play of sophomore Pascal Siakam, who posted his NCAA leading 13th double-double of the season. The 6-9 forward from Douala, Cameroon, led all scorers with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He also led both teams with two blocked shots and a career-high six assists.
 
Ian Baker scored 14 for the Aggies and grabbed seven rebounds, while Jalyn Pennie connected on four 3-pointers for 12 points with eight rebounds.
 
"It was one of those games that we just got caught up in a rhythm and I didn't want to sub," said Menzies. "They weren't subbing, we weren't subbing. It was a heavyweight bout until the last seconds. Best hit a tough, contested shot over Pascal. You've got to give them credit."
 
UCI got 17 points from guard Alex Young, while 7-6 Mamadou Ndiaye was the next highest Anteater with seven points and six rebounds.
 
NM State used a 10-0 run midway through the second half that turned a four-point UCI lead into an Aggie six-point advantage with momentum.
 
But after Siakam's jumper with 2:58 to play, Irvine seemed to dial down the defense as the Aggies couldn't get a clean look at the basket the rest of the game.
 
The Aggies hit 22-of-53 from the floor, connecting on 41.5 percent, but held Irvine to shooting 21-of-54 for 38.9 percent. NM State outrebounded UCI 35-30, but the Aggies also turned the ball over 16 times compared to the 'Eaters 7.
 
"The loss hurts, but there are a lot of good things that came out of this game that will help us going forward," said Menzies.
 
The Aggies begin Western Athletic Conference play on Thursday, when the travel to Orem, Utah, to face Utah Valley in a matchup of the last two WAC regular season champions.