LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Off to their best start in program history since 1993-94, the New Mexico State men's basketball team looks to continue its hot-streak this week when it opens Western Athletic Conference play.
 
NM State first heads to UMKC for a 5:05 p.m. (MT) tip-off against UMKC on Thursday, Jan. 5, in Municipal Auditorium. Neil Harwell will have the call for Thursday's contest on the American Sports Network while former UMKC head coach Rich Zvosec serves as the analyst.
 
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 Saturday 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
 
WHERE TO WATCH
In addition to Thursday's game being on the American Sports Network, Aggie fans in the Borderlands can watch the game online through a live-stream provided by ASN. To see if the game will be carried in your region/city, go to www.americansportsnet.com/schedule.
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
For the first game of 2017 in the Pan American Center, the first 1,000 @AggieArmy fans in attendance will get their hands on the third Aggie snapback hat when the NM State takes on Grand Canyon in its WAC home-opener on Jan. 12. The annual State Farm baby race will also be taking place at halftime.
 
Two days later on Saturday, Jan. 14, the Mascot Madness game returns to the Pan American Center for its halftime game for the game against UMKC.
 
JUMPING AGAINST THE 'ROOS
After starting the non-conference season 6-2, UMKC has lost seven of its last eight games, including a five-game losing skid heading into Thursday's nationally televised game against New Mexico State. The Aggies lead the all-time series 6-1, after a three-game sweep of UMKC last season - twice in conference play and once at the WAC Tournament. NM State is also riding a six-game winning-streak against the 'Roos heading into the conference opener in Kansas City where the Aggies are 2-1.
 
LaVell Boyd is the only player for UMKC averaging in double-figures with 19.6 points per game while Martez Harrison averaged 16.5 points before his departure from the team six games into the season. Kyle Steward and Isaiah Ross are tied for second on the team in scoring with 8.4 points per game each.
 
Boyd led the 'Roos in scoring in 14-of-16 games this season while Darnell Tillman led the team on the glass in 10 games. His 98 made field goals doubles up the next closest player in Kyle Steward at 49. Tillman currently averages 4.1 points, but guides the team with 6.0 rebounds per game. Steward is the closest player to Tillman with 3.9 boards per game while Boyd is third on the team with a 3.8 rebounds average.
 
As a team, the 'Roos have drained 150 shots from downtown, second-most in the conference and third in the league with 9.38 treys per game. UMKC's .370 shooting clip from 3-point range is also second amongst WAC teams and 13th in the country.
 
AGGIES IN WAC OPENERS
Heading into this week's Western Athletic Conference opener, NM State is 15-7 all-time when playing in its first two games since the 2005-06 season.
 
Year                     Conference            Coach                            Home           Away             First 2           
2005-06                WAC                      Reggie Theus                                       1-1                   1-1              
2006-07                WAC                      Reggie Theus                    2-0                                      2-0              
2007-08                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    1-0                   1-1              
2008-09                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    2-0                   2-0              
2009-10                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                1-1                                       1-1              
2010-11                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    1-1                    1-1             
2011-12                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    1-0                     2-0           
2012-13                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    0-2                     0-2           
2013-14                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    1-0                     2-0           
2014-15                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                 1-0                                        2-0           
2015-16                WAC                      Marvin Menzies                                    1-1                     1-1           
                                                                                                     4-1               8-5                    15-7
 
FIRST AMONGST FIRSTS
Through games on Jan. 2, Paul Weir's 13-2 record is the best amongst first-year Division I head coaches. Five other first-time head coaches have reached double-digit wins with four of those five sitting at 11 wins.
 
Weir also has the best record as a first-year head coach when compared to the list of coaches that are first-year head coaches at a new school. SMU's Tim Jankovich is the closest to Weir with a 12-3 overall mark.
 
First Year DI Head Coaches

Paul Weir	New Mexico State		13-2
Anthony Stewart	UT Martin		11-6
Allen Edwards	Wyoming		11-4
Grant McCasland	Arkansas State		11-4
Matt Lottich	Valparaiso		11-3
Wes Flanigan	Little Rock		10-5

 
First Year Head Coaches at New School

Tim Jankovich	SMU		12-3
Steve Pikiell	Rutgers		11-4
Kyle Smith	San Francisco		11-4
Kevin Stallings	Pittsburgh		11-3
Johnny Dawkins	UCF		11-3
Jamie Dixon	TCU		11-2
Chris Beard	Texas Tech		11-2
Scott Nagy	Wright State		10-5
Tubby Smith	Memphis		10-4
Brad Underwood	Oklahoma State		10-3

 
TRAILBLAZING SEASON
NM State men's basketball head coach Paul Weir has left a mark on the Aggie history books just 15 games into his inaugural season and continues do so as the season progresses into the conference slate.
 
The current 11-game win-streak by the Aggies is just the second time ever that a first-year head coach has reached double-digits when it comes to a win-streak at New Mexico State. Arthur Bergman (1920-21) is the only other Aggie coach to have a win-streak of 10 or better. However, his 10-game win-streak included a forfeit victory while the team played just 11 games that season – including the forfeit victory.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Entering its conference season, NM State is just 1-of-5 Division I teams to boast two players with five or more double-doubles. Eli Chuha and Jemerrio Jones both have five double-doubles for NM State. Other schools include UCLA (3), LIU Brooklyn (2), Memphis (2) and Texas (2).
 
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
With the win last Friday, the 2016-17 NM State men's basketball team became just the fourth team in program history to go undefeated in the month of the December in the past 50 years. Paul Weir would be the only coach from that time frame to do it in his first year at the helm.
 
Reggie Theus did it in his second year in 2006-07, going 8-0 in December. Neil McCarthy also did it in 1989-90 when his team went 7-0 while legendary head coach Lou Henson did it in 1968-69. All three of those teams went on to play in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Year: Record in Dec. (at Home)
2016-17: 7-0 (5-0)
2006-07: 8-0 (7-0)
1989-90: 7-0 (5-0)
1689-69: 8-0 (3-0)
 
PACK THE PAN AM
It's not too early to get your tickets and be a part of history as NM State hosts its Pack the Pan Am against UMKC on Jan. 21. Lower bowl tickets will be $10 while upper bowl tickets are $5. To get your tickets in advance, call the Pan American Center ticket box office at 575-646-1420.
 
AGGIE BASKETBALL TO HONOR SHAWN HARRINGTON
The NM State Athletic Department will honor former Aggie Shawn Harrington at its Jan. 21 game against UMKC. Harrington, who played in Las Cruces from 1995-96, was recruited by former Aggie assistant Rus Bradburd – who currently serves as the analyst for home Aggie basketball games. In addition, Harrington will also be in attendance at the Chicago State game on Jan. 7.
 
For a more in-depth read on Harrington's story, read The New York Times article by Joe Nocera by clicking here.

RPI CHECK
After debuting at 94 in the first RPI ranking by the NCAA on Dec. 6, NM State is now sitting at No. 67, good for the highest amongst Western Athletic Conference teams through games on Jan 2. Utah Valley, who debuted at No. 88 to lead the WAC, is now sitting at No. 193.
 
LAST TIME OUT
After a sluggish start to the game, NM State's offense woke up and unleashed a 20-0 run midway through the first half to take the lead for good as they swept UTEP for the second-straight year in a row with a 79-70 win in the Pan American Center.
 
Ian Baker led all players with 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting from downtown while Jemerrio Jones picked up his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 boards. Braxton Huggins added 15 points and Eli Chuha chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies return home for its three-game homestand and WAC home-opener after playing at Chicago State on Saturday, Jan. 7. Up first for NM State will be Grand Canyon on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. followed by Bakersfield at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. The @AggieArmy then completes its homestand on Saturday, Jan. 21, when UMKC comes to town for a 7 p.m. tip.