ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Nelly Junior Joseph delivered an impressive performance, scoring 28 points as New Mexico emerged victorious against Nicholls State with a score of 91-84 on Monday evening.

In addition to his scoring, Joseph secured 16 rebounds and contributed three blocks for the Lobos. Donovan Dent also shone with a solid all-around game, recording 15 points along with 11 assists and three steals. Mustapha Amzil managed to score 13 points but struggled with his shooting, hitting only 5 of 15 attempts and 1 of 9 from three-point range, while also collecting 13 rebounds.

On the opposing side, Nicholls State was led by Robert Brown III, who tallied 23 points. Ike Cornish supported the effort by adding 14 points alongside seven rebounds, while Michael Gray Jr. chipped in with 13 points.

New Mexico seized the lead with 7:01 left in the first half and maintained it for the duration of the game. Joseph was pivotal in this initial stretch, scoring 14 points in the first half, which helped the team take a narrow 48-43 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, New Mexico extended their lead significantly, orchestrating a 9-0 scoring run that allowed them to pull ahead by 10 points, bringing the score to 59-49 with just over 15 minutes remaining in the game.