Xavier Thames scored a season-high 22 points, including three 3-pointers, and No. 16 San Diego State extended its winning streak to nine with a 75-70 victory over host New Mexico on Wednesday.
San Diego State (16-2, 2-0 Mountain West), which hasn't lost to an unranked opponent in 56 games, used a 15-0 run midway through the second half to snap New Mexico’s 13-game win streak. The Aztecs have won five of their last seven games at The Pit.
Phillip McDonald had 20 points while shooting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc for New Mexico (15-3, 1-1 Mountain West), which opened the game with a 10-0 run and led by one at halftime.
The Aztecs, whose only losses came to ranked opponents Baylor and Creighton, took their biggest lead at 65-53 with less than five minutes to play.
Jamaal Franklin and Chase Tapley scored 12 points apiece for San Diego State.
The teams combined to shoot only 22 free throws while committing a combined 15 turnovers. San Diego State shot 9-of-20 (45 percent) from the arc, and New Mexico made 41.9 percent (13-of-31) of its 3-point attempts.
Kendall Williams scored 16 points and Drew Gordon added 15 points and nine assists for New Mexico, which has lost 11 of its last 14 games against San Diego State.