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Turnover-prone Utah State outlasts New Mexico 91-83 in Mountain West quarterfinal game

Las Vegas • Utah State survived New Mexico’s relentless full-court pressure, and its spirited upset bid, on Thursday night in a Mountain West tournament quarterfinal game at Thomas & Mack Center.

Sam Merrill scored 23 points and the second-seeded Aggies overcame 24 turnovers — most of them against a wicked press — to turn back the seventh-seeded Lobos 91-83 to move into Friday’s semifinal against the winner of the late Air Force-Fresno State game.

Utah State (26-6) won the game at the free-throw line, making 35 of 45 free throws. The Lobos (14-18) had an eight-point lead early in the second half, but couldn’t hold it.