BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – New Mexico State stays on the road for its final road game before finally returning home with an 8 p.m. (MT) tilt against at CSU Bakersfield this Saturday, Jan. 13, on ESPN3.
 
Mychal Clanton has the call while Sed Bonner serves as the analyst on broadcast. Aggie fans can also catch the game on the WAC Digital Network via over-the-top apps for Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV or Roku Devices on top of the WatchESPN App.
 
GOLDEN STATE BATTLE
Heading into Saturday's contest 2-0 in conference play, the Aggies have a little extra incentive against this time around against CSU Bakersfield after falling to the 'Runners last season on the road, 72-53.
 
To the surprise of many, CSUB enters this weekend's game 0-2 in conference play with losses to Utah Valley (75-42) on the road and UT Rio Grande Valley at home (87-74). The reigning Western Athletic Conference regular-season champions are 7-10 overall on the year and have lost four-straight for the second time this season.
 
Jarkel Joiner leads a quartet of players averaging in double-figures with 10.9 points while Rickey Holden averages 10.6 points with a .399 shooting clip to lead all players with at least 100 shots taken. Shonn Brigs is the third-best scorer on the team with 10.5 points per game while pacing the team with 5.4 rebounds per game. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for CSUB is Damiyne Durham, checking in at 10.1 points.
 
Durham leads a trio of 3-point threats for CSUB, knocking down a team-best 39 triples so far followed by Joiner (24) and Holden (20). Senior Brent Wrapp has played a big role in distributing the ball for CSUB, dishing out a team-high 89 assists while Holden has found his teammates 51 times.
 
Through two games in conference play, Holden leads the team with 11.0 points per game with Briggs right behind him at 10.0 points per game. Justin Davis, who started in place of Wrapp in CSUB's last game, is averaging 9.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in league play.
 
As a team, the 'Runners are shooting just 5-of-28 from deep and 37.7-percent from the floor while opponents are shooting at 50.5-percent from the field with a .400 clip beyond the arc.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Behind 29 points from Zach Lofton and a solid defensive second-half performance, the Aggies powered past Grand Canyon 70-59 in a hostile road environment. Jemerrio Jones, who missed a large portion of the second half due to cramping, finished with six points and 15 rebounds – including from the offensive glass.
 
On the glass, NM State doubled up the Lopes on offensive, defensive and overall categories. Despite turning the ball over 18 times that led to 19 points for GCU, NM State was able to take advantage of the paint (34-24) and get a 17-10 in second-chance points.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State finally returns home for the first time in 37 days next Thursday, Jan. 18, when it plays host to Seattle U for a 7 p.m. (MT) tip-off on ESPN3 with Adam Young on the call and Rus Bradburd as the analyst. KVIA News Channel 7 will also serve as the night's media sponsor.
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Next Thursday's game will feature a slew of promotions, including the third edition of the Aggie snap back hat giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. A lucky NMSU student will get a chance to win free tuition during a time out.