ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New Mexico scored 54 first-half points Friday night, spearheading the Lobos to a 86-57 season-opening victory over Texas Southern.
Cullen Neal scored 22 points, Tim Williams, 17, Elijah Brown added 16 with six assists, and New Mexico out-shot Texas Southern from the field 59.3 percent to 34.7 percent.
The Lobos broke away on a 15-2 run midway through the first half in which Neal scored 5 points, and New Mexico never trailed for the remainder.
Forward Malcolm Riley paced Texas Southern with 20 points.
The bulk of the Lobos' points through the first 20 minutes came in the low post.