Kansas 75 New Mexico State 56
The No. 2 seed Kansas Jayhawks were able to become the first Big-12 school to finally record a victory in this year’s NCAA Tournament, defeating WAC champion and No. 15 seed New Mexico State in dominating fashion. The Aggies were kept at bay the entire game, coming nowhere close to providing any kind of drama that plagued Baylor and Iowa State during Thursday’s action.
The Aggies pulled back within 12 points early in the second half before a dunk by Jamari Traylor sparked a deciding run for Kansas.
The Jayhawks shot over 50 percent from the field and nearly 70 percent from beyond the 3-point line, and were led by sophomore Frank Mason III’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Mason went 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, while also adding four assists and two steals.
New Mexico State was led by senior guard DK Eldridge, who came off the bench to score 11 points while shooting 4-of-8 from the field in his final game for the Aggies.
The win by Kansas and Wichita State’s victory over Indiana on Friday afternoon sets up a meeting between the two in-state schools in the Round of 32 this coming Sunday in Cleveland.
