ALBUQUERQUE — Chad Toppert made the most of his first start in almost a year, at one point scoring eight straight second-half points for New Mexico on Wednesday, leading the Lobos to a 68-50 victory over Mountain West Conference rival Colorado State.
Toppert, the normal UNM sixth man, replaced Phillip McDonald, who was ill. Although he wasn’t at his best shooting, he finished with a game-high 18 points, while teammate Tony Danridge added 16. The duo combined to go 16-for-17 from the free-throw line.
Jesse Carr’s 15 points paced the Rams (7-14, 2-5), who were missing leading scorer Marcus Walker because of grade issues.
Both teams struggled through a sluggish first half, although New Mexico (13-8, 4-2) used a 9-0 run near the break to take a 24-19 lead into intermission. Daniel Faris finished with 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, collecting four points in the surge.
COLORADO STATE (7-14, 2-5 MWC)
McFarland 2-3 0-0 6, Ogide 1-5 2-4 4, Carr 5-12 3-4 15, Nigon 1-1 0-0 2, Gardner 3-6 2-2 9, Franklin 1-1 4-4 6, Lebsack 1-1 0-0 2, Dunn 0-2 0-0 0, Bocar Ba 1-1 0-0 2, Vandervieren 1-3 2-5 4. Totals 16-35 13-19 50.
NEW MEXICO (13-8, 4-2)
Martinez 4-8 0-0 8, Toppert 4-13 8-9 18, Faris 6-7 2-5 14, Gary 0-2 2-4 2, Danridge 4-8 8-8 16, Hardeman 1-2 0-0 2, Wills 0-1 2-2 2, Garth 1-3 3-4 6, Brown 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 25-32 68.
Halftime — New Mexico 24-19. 3-point goals — Colorado State 5-10 (McFarland 2-3, Carr 2-5, Gardner 1-2), New Mexico 3-14 (Toppert 2-7, Garth 1-3, Gary 0-1, Martinez 0-3). Fouled out — Vandervieren. Rebounds — Colorado State 23 (McFarland 5), New Mexico 28 (Faris 8). Assists — Colorado State 10 (Carr 4), New Mexico 14 (Gary 5). Total fouls — Colorado State 23, New Mexico 21. A — 13,157.
