LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In a season full of new challenges, the Aggies (7-9, 0-4 WAC) find themselves in completely new territory for the first time since joining the WAC – winless through four conference games after falling to California Baptist (10-7, 2-2 WAC) 70-61 Saturday night.
 
Deshawndre Washington recorded his third career 20-point scoring night to lead NM State while exploding for 17 second-half points, while fellow Northwest Florida State team member Issa Muhammad added 10 points and nine rebounds inside the Pan American Center.
 
After changing out parts of their starting five, the Aggies dominated California Baptist in bench points 38-17. Although it didn't happen often, NM State was able to score when it got out in transition, outscoring the Lancers 9-3 in the process. From the charity stripe, the Aggies were able to put together their best performance of the season – going 16-20 from the stripe (80%).
 
For the Lancers, five players scored at least eight points, including Riley Battin, who poured in 18 points – nine of which came from beyond the arc. California Baptist also utilized success on the offensive glass to do a lot of its damage as they outscored the Aggies 23-3 in second chance scoring.
 
FIRST HALF

• Marchelus Avery won the opening tip, but California Baptist opened the scoring with a three-pointer from Taran Armstrong. The Lancers would open the game on an 8-0 run, prompting a Greg Heiar timeout with 17:42 left in the first half after making a full lineup change less than two minutes into the game.
• Doctor Bradley put the Aggies on the board with 16:39 left in the first half – using some fancy footwork to tightrope the baseline before scoring a reverse layup.
• The Aggies later scored a trio of fastbreak buckets to rattle off an 8-3 run to cut the Lancer lead to three (11-8).
• Yet again, the Aggies experience a slow start as it failed to reach double digits until a Deshawndre Washington triple nearly 12 minutes into the game.
• After trailing 22-14 with 6:50 remaining NM State tightened up its defense and started to see some shots fall as they reduced the deficit to just two points with a little over one minute left to play in the period. However, CBU would score the final five points of the half to put the Aggies down seven points heading into the break.

 
SECOND HALF

• Avery got the scoring started for the Aggies in the second half as he knocked down a three from the right elbow to keep it a seven-point game (30-23).
• Deshawndre Washington scored eight of the next 11 points for the Crimson & White – cutting the Lancer lead 37-34 with 13:10 remaining.
• Xavier Pinson got on the scoreboard for the first time with a three-pointer to make it a five-point game (42-37) with 11:59 on the clock.
• As the minutes winded down, the game got more physical and the crowd more intense while the Aggies fed off the energy to go on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to just one point with 8:45 left on the clock.
• Unfortunately, California Baptist would later score eight straight points in just 59 seconds to increase its lead to nine.
• Deshawndre Washington did all he could to help work NM State back into a position to earn a win late in the game as he scored seven of the Aggies' final eight points, however, CBU would fend off any Aggie comeback attempt and would eventually secure a nine-point win.

 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Deshawndre Washington finished the night with 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists after coming off the bench for the first time in his Aggie career. Saturday marked his 10th double-digit scoring performance of the season and third time scoring at least 20.
• Washington also knocked down all seven of his free throw attempts to record the best individual free throw game of the season for any Aggie.
• Issa Muhammad finished the night with 10 points and nine rebounds, his eighth time scoring in double figures on the year.
• Kyle Feit registered his first career start for the Aggies.
• The Aggies were successful 16 times on 20 free throw attempts – noting their best free throw shooting percentage of the season.
• The Lancers' 23 second chance points are the most any Aggie opponent has scored this season while also marking just the second time any Aggie opponent has eclipsed 20 second chance points this year.