“I will say that my only disappointment is that we didn’t get a chance to show who we really are,” Menzies said. “We didn’t get a chance to play like the real WAC champions, and that’s disappointing because it’s such a special platform and a special stage to be on. And to not have the type of production that we would normally get from our guys is just frustrating.”

Saint Louis had its usual scrappy showing and a whole lot more.

Dwayne Evans had 24 points and six rebounds, and Cody Ellis scored 12 points for the Billikens, who have been playing with a heavy heart since coach Rick Majerus died in December. Saint Louis (28-6) eclipsed the 1988-89 team’s school record of 27 victories and is back where it was a year ago in the round of 32.

The Aggies, meanwhile, haven’t won a tournament game since beating Nebraska in the opening round in 1993.

“We’re going to look back at this year and we’re going to be able to pick out a lot of accomplishments and goals that we accomplished that we had at the beginning of the year,” said Aggies guard Daniel Mullings, who had six points on 2-for-9 shooting. “Especially after this game, we’re just going to look at some of the mistakes that we made and try to take care of that going forward.”

Saint Louis had no problem maneuvering around 7-foot-5 freshman Sim Bhullar and New Mexico State.

Evans shot 11-for-16 from the floor and finished a point shy of his career best to propel Saint Louis around, over and even through the 355-pound Bhullar, who struggled to keep pace. The Billikens held Bhullar to four points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

The Aggies (24-11) shot 28 percent. Saint Louis shot 46 percent and forced 16 turnovers.

NMSU’s Bandja Sy had 17 points against Saint Louis on Thursday, but he got little help from his teammates. (JEFF CHIU/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

“It was like Rick was up on top of the backboard slapping the ball out,” Menzies said.

“They played great defense,” Sy said. “They have great individual defenders, and they play good defense as a team, too.”

The big man bothered the Billikens only briefly.

The lumbering center stayed around the rim while his other four teammates chased five players around the perimeter. The unconventional defense allowed Bhullar to save energy and protect the paint.

Once Saint Louis solved the big man, it had no trouble.

The Billikens pushed the pace and often left Bhullar in the backcourt, especially when New Mexico State committed seven turnovers in the first nine minutes. Evans scored 16 points during a 29-14 run to open the game.

“He had his work cut out,” Evans said, “because we have a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things.”

NMSU had won 18 of 20 games, including the Western Athletic Conference tournament title for the second straight season. New Mexico State also was a No. 13 seed last year, losing 79-66 in the first round to Indiana, but at least felt better about falling to an opponent playing for a cause.

“I’m happy for those guys in the other locker room,” Menzies said. “They’re keeping their dream alive.”

— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal