Associated Press
Daniel Mullings scored 21 points to lead New Mexico State to a 95-88 win over Hawaii in the final game of the Rainbow Classic on Tuesday.
The Aggies used their superior size to shoot 58 percent and outrebound the Rainbow Warriors 40-27. At 7-foot-5, Sim Bhullar had 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Garrett Nevels scored 26 points for Hawaii. Isaac Fotu added 20 points and nine rebounds and earned tournament MVP honors.
Western Michigan, New Mexico State and Hawaii each finished 2-1 in the round-robin event. Western Michigan was awarded the title based on a tiebreaker of fewest points allowed in the tournament.
New Mexico State led by 16 points with just more than five minutes left, but the Rainbow Warriors twice pulled within four in the final minute. The Aggies made 11 straight free throws to clinch the victory in a game that started at midnight.
NEW MEXICO STATE (2-1)
Nephawe 1-2 2-2 4, S. Bhullar 6-7 3-6 15, Eldridge 5-9 2-3 15, Ross-Miller 3-9 10-12 17, Mullings 6-11 8-12 21, Landry 1-2 0-0 2, Barry 7-8 4-5 18, Aronis 1-4 0-0 3, Dixon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-52 29-40 95.
HAWAII (2-1)
Standhardinger 3-12 3-4 9, Fotu 7-15 5-7 20, Shamburger 2-4 1-2 6, Nevels 8-16 6-9 26, Valdes 3-8 0-0 6, Jawato 0-0 0-0 0, Enos 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 5-9 4-6 15, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Rozitis 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 30-70 21-30 88.
Halftime-New Mexico St. 46-37. 3-Point Goals-New Mexico St. 6-14 (Eldridge 3-5, Mullings 1-1, Aronis 1-4, Ross-Miller 1-4), Hawaii 7-20 (Nevels 4-6, Smith 1-1, Shamburger 1-3, Fotu 1-4, Enos 0-1, Thomas 0-1, Valdes 0-2, Standhardinger 0-2). Fouled Out-Smith. Rebounds-New Mexico St. 40 (S. Bhullar 10), Hawaii 27 (Fotu 9). Assists-New Mexico St. 13 (Mullings 5), Hawaii 12 (Nevels, Standhardinger 3). Total Fouls-New Mexico St. 22, Hawaii 26. Technicals-Mullings, Ross-Miller, Shamburger 2 (ejected), Hawaii Bench. A-5,495.