After knocking off, then No. 6, Miami in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic semifinals on Saturday, New Mexico State had a chance to play for a championship on Christmas Day.
The Aggies and Southern California were tied 72-72 with one minute to go in the title game of the Diamond Head Classic title game, but Bennie Boatwright’s long 3-pointer late in the shot clock with five seconds left put the Trojans up 75-72 and propelled USC to a 77-72 win over NMSU at the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu.
The Aggies (11-3) turned the ball over on the in-bound following Boatwright’s three.