LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Justin Hawkins scored a career-high 37 points as New Mexico State beat Hawai'i 106-71 tonight to gain a share of its first Western Athletic Conference basketball title.

The Aggies (19-13, 12-4 WAC) raced to a 50-29 halftime lead and coasted to victory in handing Hawai'i (11-18, 7-9) its sixth consecutive loss heading into the upcoming conference tournament.

Hawkins had 21 points in the first half and bettered his previous career-high of 29 points.

New Mexico State led by as many as 39 in the second half in avenging a 94-71 loss to the Rainbow Warriors on Jan. 31 at Honolulu.

Riley Luettgerodt paced Hawai'i with a career-high 26 points and 7 rebounds while Matt Gibson added 16 points.

The Aggies hit 7-of-10 3-point shots in the first half and wound up making 51 percent of their field goals in the game.

They also outrebounded Hawai'i by a 65-29 margin.