ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico scored the first 14 points of the night in front of a crowd of more than 9,000 and Jacksonville State could never recover as the Gamecocks dropped the opening game of the Lobo Classic, 79-61, to the tournament hosts.
 
JSU (2-3) outscored the undefeated Lobos (4-0) in the second half, 40-37, but a dreadful opening half was too much to overcome. Along with the 14-0 deficit out of the game, a 7-0 stretch for UNM just before the half extended what had been trimmed to a single-digit hole.
 
Skyelar Potter was the first Gamecock to reach double figures scoring, but it came midway into the second half after Jax State struggled for a season-low 21 first-half points combined. Potter finished with 13 points, just ahead of Peyton Daniels with 10 after the duo each hit a trio of treys.
 
A 10-3 advantage in three-pointers was one of the few stats Jax State topped the Lobos. UNM outrebounded JSU, 45-30, had five fewer turnovers and reached the free throw line on 17 more occasions to sink 13 more free shots than JSU.
 
JSU managed to get its 21-point halftime deficit down to 14, but ironically couldn't get any closer than than margin UNM built right off the bat to begin the game.
 
Jax State quickly turns to page and looks ahead at two more games this weekend against Northern Colorado and North Dakota State at The Pit. Saturday's game against UNC tips at 7:30 local time.