SEATTLE - Perception was reality in the Redhawk Center Saturday night.
Fans in attendance saw a New Mexico State team that was facing extreme difficulty getting its shots to fall. A team that was on the ropes after going own by 11 points early. Then, the perception of the Aggies changed. They became a team that fought and clawed their way back into things until the reality was this at the end of the night: the Aggies are still the team to beat in the WAC.
Ivan Aurrecoechea made a mockery of the Redhawks' interior defense, shredding it to ribbons to the tune of 19 points and 11 rebounds, Jabari Rice joined his senior teammate in double-double territory with 17 points and a career-high 11 boards and the Aggies overcame an 11-point first-half deficit to claim a hard-fought 75-67 triumph at Seattle U.