Jaden Harris shoots a jump shot against NMSU at VyStar Arena on 1/31/26. Photo by: Declan Hale
Men’s basketball held New Mexico State to just 25% from the field, while Jaden Harris posted a season-high against his former team in a 76-53 demolition on Saturday at VyStar Arena.
Harris, a late addition to the Owls roster who spent the previous two seasons playing for the Aggies and has seen an increased role for KSU over the last few weeks, scored 16 points and knocked down five 3-pointers to give the Owls backcourt a scoring boost.
It did [add extra motivation],” Harris said. “But I just do this for Kennesaw State. We had some dudes go down, and it’s just really for them mainly – it did feel good to beat them, but it was mainly for us.”
NMSU jumped out to a 10-1 lead early, then struggled to materialize anything offensively for the rest of the game, shooting just 12-of-48 from the field and converting just five field goals in the second half.
After KSU found themselves in the early hole, coach Antoine Pettway said he told the team the to just breathe
“[I said] breathe,” he said. “We’re prepared, like, you’re at your home. You’re in front of your home crowd. Breathe, relax, let’s go give it our best shot. Let’s go guard, we’re not guarding, we’re not playing hard enough.”
The Owls proceeded to go on a 31-7 run, gaining a double-digit lead and coasting into the halftime break with a 43-24 lead.
The second half featured more of the same.
The Owls’ lead swelled to as large as 28 points with 9:55 remaining when freshman Amir Taylor capitalized on an Aggies turnover, getting to the foul line and converting both shots.
In the closing minutes, senior walk-ons Charles Stone and Eric Holland Jr. checked into the game for potentially the final time in their college careers alongside sophomore walk-on Dozie Onyirimba, helping see out the 76-53 victory.
“I was blessed to inherit [Stone and Holland Jr.] when I got here,” Pettway said. “Those dudes have just been constant leaders in my locker room. I was a former walk-on, so I told them day one, I don’t care about titles on this team, the leading scorer or [Charles] Stone.”
RJ Johnson remained on a scoring tear, leading all scorers with 20 points on the night, his fourth game with 20 points or more in his last five appearances.
“I know that my teammates, they accept me [leading the offense],” Johnson said. “They just look at me now, I know I work hard enough to step up in that role and not shy away from the lights.”
Owls forward Perry Smith Jr., who was sidelined in KSU’s win over Western Kentucky earlier in the week dressed for the game, but did not make an appearance. Pettway said the move was a coaches’ decision due to Smith being limited in practice.
