CHICAGO – It was only fitting on a night where both New Mexico State and Illinois were set to honor legendary head coach Lou Henson that the Aggies gutted out a 74-69 win Saturday night over the Illini at the United Center – giving NM State its first win over a Big Ten Conference foe since Henson did it in 2004.
Oddly enough, that win in 2004 was against Northwestern – another team from Illinois on a neutral floor at the BP Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
After a bad start in the second-half, New Mexico State (9-2) saw its once 15-point lead from the first half dwindle and dissipate with 10:15 left to play when Aaron Jordan hit a pair of free-throws and gave Illinois (8-5) the 45-43 lead.