So intense New Mexico State guard Jahmar Young appeared to rip (literally tear) his jersey off at the end of the game and throw it into the stands.
Utah State clipped NMSU on a winning shot by Tyler Newbold with 3.1 seconds left. Newbold slipped behind a pick from a post player to get the shot. The Utah State team whipped it around to him for an open 10-foot baseline jumper to take the lead. This after NMSU led nearly the entire second half.
Utah State coach Stew Morrill called Newbold a bunch of things after the game: solid, steady, stable, bluecollar. He may be those things but he may have been a little dirty during the game, too. It looked like he might have been purposely putting his feet under NMSU players on jump shots. Not cool. That crap is actually how you cause opponents to sprain ankles. Definitely not cool.
There was also some good mascot conflict during the game.
The NMSU mascot "Pistol Pete" (who by the way kinda stinks because he doesn't wear a head, it's just a guy in a big, fake mustache, black hat and chaps) got into it with the Utah State bull. Pete was taunting the bull most of the game, and during a dance contest hit him with an inflatable sword. Later, the bull snatched off Pete's mustache. And then Pete chased him down and bear-hugged him from behind. No blows were exchanged, which was good. Pete, who's kinda scrawny, probably woulda got stomped.
Overall, NMSU-USU was definitely one of the best games of the tournament, if not the best. It's rival was the Nevada-Louisiana Tech women's game. Nevada won that one in overtime to advance to the finals.
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