March 5, 2005

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Danny Granger scored 19 points and New Mexico used a 17-0 run in the second half to rally for a 72-61 win over Colorado State Saturday night.

New Mexico (23-6, 10-4 Mountain West) finished the regular season with its ninth win in the last 10 games and a runner-up finish to Utah in the conference.

Colorado State (11-16, 3-11) led 38-33 at halftime and 44-40 with 16:48 left in the game. But the Rams quickly fell apart by going more than nine minutes without scoring.

While New Mexico was building its scoring run, CSU was committing seven straight turnovers. The string of turnovers followed a time-out, during which New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay and CSU coach Dale Layer were both assessed technicals for repeatedly arguing calls by the officials.

Seven-footer Matt Nelson, who led the Rams with 15 points, finally broke the scoring drought with a layup with 7:34 left.

New Mexico countered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Alfred Neale and Ryan Wall for a 63-46 lead.

CSU, which has lost 18 of the last 20 games against New Mexico, used a 10-1 run late in the first half to take a 29-26 lead. The Rams stretched it to 38-31 on a pair of free throws by Michael Morris with 10.4 seconds left in the first half.

Nelson scored on a dunk in the opening minute of the second half but New Mexico started its second half rally with seven straight points. Neale, who finished with 11 points, hit a 3, Granger a pair of free throws and Mark Walters got a favorable roll on a shot inside to tie it at 40.

Matt Williams scored back-to-back baskets for the Rams, but by then New Mexico's defense had disrupted CSU's offensive flow. The Rams, despite their second half scoring problems, still shot 58 percent for the game. Not enough to offset their 24 turnovers.

CSU freshman 7-footer Jason Smith scored 12 points and had 8 rebounds.