On a cold, windy night at Spartan Stadium, 71-year-old San Jose State coach Dick Tomey twice got doused with ice-filled buckets of Gatorade as he walked off the field. And he couldn't have been happier.

His Spartans snapped a six-game losing streak, beating New Mexico State 13-10 Saturday in an ugly game that almost slipped away late. After several crucial stops by the Spartans defense, Tyler Cope capped the season's longest drive with a 19-yard field goal, securing a win in Tomey's home finale.

"I was trying to avoid (the ice) at all costs because I knew how cold it was, but it was wonderful, and when they got me, it felt so good," said Tomey, who will retire to Hawaii after the season. "This game was perfect. People would say that it wasn't pretty, but it was beautiful to me.

"It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

It was an emotional night for Tomey, who spoke briefly to each of his seniors during a pregame ceremony and then watched the team hand his wife, Nancy, a game ball after the win.

"As a coach, I've never been part of a more satisfying victory, because we really needed it," Tomey said. "It's been a very difficult time the last two weeks because of the uncertainty, but I'm filled with admiration for these guys because of how they've handled everything. They wanted a win so badly, and they did exactly what they had to do to get it."

Tomey was honored with a video tribute at the end of the first quarter

For a while, it looked as if the Spartans (2-9, 1-6 Western Athletic Conference) would get the celebration started early. Led by Kyle Reed, they marched straight down the field on their first possession to take their first lead in six weeks.

After a sack on third down near the goal line knocked Reed out of the game with a dislocated pinkie, Tomey elected to go for it. Backup quarterback Jordan La Secla rewarded his coach by hitting Kevin Jurovich on a quick slant for the score.

La Secla, who went 15-of-24 for 154 yards, then led a 14-play drive that ended with Cope's season-long 46-yard field goal.

The Aggies (3-9, 1-6) made it 10-7 just before the half when quarterback Jeff Fleming scored from a yard out. On their next drive, they tacked on the tying field goal.

On the winning 82-yard drive, La Secla hit a wide-open Jalal Beauchman for 57 yards to the Aggies 14 to set up the winning field goal.