Las Cruces, N.M.-----Robert Owens tied a San Jose State University single-game school record with seven 3-point baskets and led all players with 29 points, but the Spartans could not get the needed basket nor the defensive stop in the second half before losing at New Mexico State, 94-82, in a Western Athletic Conference men's basketball game.

            Owens was 7-of-12 from 3-point range to tie the mark matched by Mac Peterson against Fresno State and set by Terrance Richmond in a 1998 game at Montana. For the night, the 6-foot-3 guard was 10-of-18 from the field and even converted a four-point play in the second half.

            "Robert had a real solid game. We've seen Robert do this before. He gets on a roll and makes some threes. I think three or four of his misses were in (the cylinder). They rattled around the rim and popped out of there," said San Jose State coach George Nessman about Owens who returned to the starting lineup for the first time in three games. Owens replaced C.J. Webster in the starting five. Webster played just eight minutes, was plagued with foul problems and went scoreless. 

            "We just could not get that one last play. We'd get it to three (down). The next play we needed we couldn't make and then they'd make a good play. It was run, run, run and they made the last one to beat us."

            New Mexico State (14-8, 7-2 WAC) avenged an early 93-84 defeat to the Spartans shooting 52.4 percent from the field with five players scoring in double-figures. Forward Troy Gillenwater made his season debut for the Aggies and came off the bench to score 19 points and grab 11 rebounds.

            Gillenwater, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, became eligible on February 2 when New Mexico State's appeal for his reinstatement was ruled in the school's favor.

            The loss for the Spartans (12-11, 5-6 WAC) was the third in a row.

            "This was a buzz saw of a trip for us. We're disappointed we lost these games (at Utah State, Lousiana Tech and New Mexico State). It certainly wasn't because of a lack of effort, intensity nor focus," said Nessman about the Spartans' last eight days. "We were in every game. We just couldn't find a way to get over the top."

            Adrian Oliver scored 22 points for the second game in a row and center Chris Oakes contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

            Guard Jahmar Young led the Aggies in scoring with 25 and Jonathan Gibson tossed 20 in a game that both teams made 11 3-point baskets. In San Jose State's win, the Aggies made just 39.4 percent of their shots.

            "With the addition of Gillenwater to their front line, it makes them a different team. They now have post depth that they didn't have (when we played them in San Jose.) Now, you can't tire their 'bigs' out. In San Jose, we tired their 'bigs' out. Here, they tired ours out a little bit," added Nessman.

            The Spartans never regained the lead after the first five minutes of the contest. New Mexico State led by as many as 12 points in the first half and was ahead 49-42 at halftime.

            After the Aggies built their lead back to 12 at the start of the second half, Owens single-handedly rallied the Spartans with his long-range accuracy. Three straight three's by the San Jose State guard cut the deficit to 56-52 with 14:52 remaining. The Spartans got as close as 64-62 after two Oliver free throws, but back-to-back baskets by Young  just before the 5:00 mark allowed New Mexico State to regain a double-figure lead for the first time since the early stages of the second half.

            San Jose State was 11-of-23 from 3-point range, but shot just 43.1 percent for the game. At The Event Center, the Spartans shot 56.4 percent in their win over New Mexico State.

            The Spartans have a week to regroup before hosting Utah State at home on February 13 in a 7:00 p.m. game.