RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- — Milan Acquaah poured in a career-high 36 points and California Baptist made 14 straight free throws in the final 77 seconds to hold off defending conference champion New Mexico State 82-76 in the Lancers' Western Athletic Conference debut Thursday night.

Acquaah, a transfer from Washington State, was 10 of 19 from the floor and a perfect 13-for-13 at the line. He made four straight foul shots with 1:17 to play. Mike Henn, Ty Rowley, Jordan Heading and Marquise Mosley kept the free throw streak alive from there and the Lancers (9-5, 1-0) were 32 of 36 on foul shots for the game.

The Aggies (11-4, 0-1) trailed by 13 with 5-1/2 minutes left but came as close as 78-75 when C.J. Bobbitt made a 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining. New Mexico had to foul to try to get the ball back and CBU was not missing from the line.

Heading scored 14 and Rowell 10 for California Baptist, which has won its last five. Terrell Brown led New Mexico State with 22 points, AJ Harris added 15 and JoJo Zamora and Bobbitt added 13 each.