RIO RANCHO, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's basketball team readies to take the stage on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. (MT) when it takes on Northern New Mexico at the Santa Ana Star Center. This will be the second time in as many years the Aggies and Eagles have squared off in Rio Rancho.
 
The 18-game winning-streak for NM State is good for the nation's second-longest win-streak and trails just Gonzaga (22). Arizona now owns the third-longest winning-streak in the country with 13-straight wins through Saturday while Cincinnati, Belmont and Akron are tied at 11 with Illinois State and Vermont rounding out the double-digit win-streak holders.
 
New Mexico State also became the fourth-fastest team to 20 wins this year with its victory over Utah Valley, joining Baylor and UNC-Wilmington. Gonzaga leads the nation with 22 wins on the year.
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
The next time NM State returns home will be Saturday, Feb. 4, when the Aggies entertain Chicago State on alumni weekend. The game against the Cougars is sponsored by GEICO and will be the final installment of the special edition Aggie snapback hat giveaway. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will get their hands on the snapback hat.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State men's basketball team all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by following @AggieArmy.
 
LISTEN UP!
Aggie fans that can't make it to the game can listen to NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon Monday night on 99.5 Zia Country and affiliate stations. Fans can also listen to the game live with their mobile or tablet device on the TuneIn app for free. The game will be available on following affiliate stations as well:
 
Alamogordo      103.7 FM KNMZ
Albuquerque     101.7 FM KQTM
Carlsbad           1240 AM KAMQ
Gallup              1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas        107.1 FM KMDS
 
WAC MINI PLAN PACK
Aggie fans can still purchase the $50 WAC mini pack for the four remaining games and still save a total of $22. Fans choosing to buy adjacent seats for the Four for $50 WAC mini-pack will not be required to make an AAC donation for the designated seats. Games selected in the mini-pack can't be purchased on game day.
 
For more information, please visit the Pan American Center box office or call 575-646-1420.
 
ALUMNI WEEKEND AROUND THE CORNER
The NM State men's basketball alumni weekend is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, when the Aggies host Chicago State at 7 p.m. A host of activities are lined up for those returning to Las Cruces, beginning on Friday, Feb. 3.
 
Aggie basketball alums are encouraged to sign up by Jan. 31, by contacting special events coordinator, Nicole Gomez via email (nicolemg@nmsu.edu) or by phone at 575-646-8050.
 
GUESS WHO'S BACK!?
The NM State men's basketball team is set to return to the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., as it takes on Northern New Mexico on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. This is the second time in as many years the Aggies will be playing the Eagles in Rio Rancho.
 
This is the second year the Aggies will take the court at the Santa Ana Star Center. Last February, nearly 2,500 fans watched New Mexico State clinch an 85-54 victory over Northern New Mexico at the neutral-site venue.
 
Reserved seats start at $10, with center court seats going for $20 and a limited number of courtside seats available at $50.
 
Ticket reservations are now being accepted by NM State at the Pan American Center Ticket Office, either in person or by calling (575) 646-1420. Fans can also order tickets through Santa Ana Star Center starting 10:00 AM Friday, December 2 by calling (888) 694-4849, online at SantaAnaStarCenter.com, or in person at Don Chalmers Ford Box Office at Santa Ana Star Center.
 
The New Mexico State Alumni Association will also be hosting a pregame reception before Monday's game. RSVPs for the event must be made by Jan. 25.
 
PRE-GAME RECEPTION WITH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Monday, January 30, 2017
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
 
Santa Ana Star Center, VIP Lounge
3001 Civic Center Circle NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87144 (map)
 
Reception ticket: $15.00 per person
Includes light appetizers, cash bar available.
 
AGGIES MEET FANS IN #AGGIEQUERQUE
Fresh of its 18th-straight victory on Saturday, the NM State men's basketball team is set to entertain Northern New Mexico on Monday, Jan. 30, in the Santa Ana Star Center. Monday's meeting will be the sixth time the two programs from the Land of Enchantment square off. New Mexico State owns a 5-0 mark against Northern New Mexico, four of which came at home on Lou Henson Court.
 
Jeffrey Long paces NNMC with 15 points per game to go with his 5.1 rebounds per game while Hasan Tucker is the only other player averaging in double-figures at 14.9 points. Tucker's 6.3 boards per game tie him with Ezini Ugbisien for the team lead. Ugbisien is nearly averaging double-digits, checking in with a 9.7 points average. Bryce Simmons is right behind him with 8.7 points per game followed by Adrian Infante with 8.2 points per game.
 
Long is also the team leader in assists with 67 while Eric Coca is second on the team in that category with 43. Coca and Infante are also the Eagles' two biggest threats from deep with Coca knocking down 30 to Infante's 26.
 
LAST TIME OUT
With its 17-game winning-streak on the line, NM State men's basketball team was given a run for its money this past Saturday in Orem, Utah, when it faced off against Utah Valley. The Wolverines took a 38-31 lead over the Aggies at the break thanks to a .536 shooting clip and 20-14 advantage in the paint.
 
However, New Mexico State willed their way back into the game one basket at a time and go within striking distance of UVU in the latter half of the second frame. Behind stellar play from Eli Chuha and senior Ian Baker in the final 3:33 saw the Aggies close out the game with a 12-5 run for its 20th victory of the year.
 
UP NEXT
NM State now returns home to the friendly confines of the Pan American Center where it is a perfect 13-0 this season and have won 22-straight dating back to last season. The Aggies are slated to host Chicago State on Saturday, Feb. 4, for their alumni night at 7 p.m. (MT). New Mexico State will then hit the road once again, this time for a three-game road swing over two weeks.