CHICAGO – Junior guard Braxton Huggins continued his stellar play Saturday afternoon, dropping 27 points on 5-of-10 shooting from deep as New Mexico State cruised past Chicago State 78-62 in the Jones Convocation Center.
 
The Aggies (15-2, 2-0 WAC) brought their win-streak to 13-consecutive games, tying the 2013-14 squad's end of year run that was halted in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Travel and two days between games didn't seem to faze Huggins in the opening half as the junior launched a 16-point offensive barrage on Chicago State behind 6-of-8 shooting – three of which came from downtown. The trio of Huggins, Eli Chuha and Ian Baker went on scoring sprees to keep NM State on top 41-32 at the break.
 
The second half was very much the same as NM State out-played Chicago State (4-14, 0-2 WAC) rim-to-rim. A 21-6 run to open the second frame was too much for the Cougars to overcome, even after timeouts called by Chicago State to cool the Aggie shooting down.
 
Baker finished with 14 points, six assists and five boards while Chuha recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 13 games and 10 boards. Jemerrio Jones also chipped in with five assists and five boards.
 
New Mexico State now returns home to the friendly confines of the Pan American Center for a three-game homestand as it goes for its 600th overall victory inside the PAC. First up for the Aggies will be Grand Canyon on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Adam Young and former NM State assistant coach Rus Bradburd will have the call while Jack Nixon has the call on 99.5 FM Zia Country.