LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's basketball team returns home for the first of its four-game homestand, beginning with Northern New Mexico on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. (MT) on the WAC Digital Network.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State men's basketball team all season on Twitter and Instagram by following @NMStateMBB and on Facebook at FB.com/NMStateMBB.
 
LISTEN UP!
Aggie fans that can't make it to Tuesday's contest can catch the game by listening to NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on 99.5 Zia Country and affiliate stations on the Aggie Sports Network listed below.
 
Alamogordo      103.7 FM KNMZ
Albuquerque     1150 AM KNMM
Carlsbad           1240 AM KAMQ
El Paso             1380 AM KHEY
Gallup               1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas        107.1 FM KMDS
 

AGGIE DEFENSE CLAMPS DOWN
The NM State defense continues to impress as it held UMKC to just 48 points last Saturday, which was the fewest points allowed by the Aggies since giving up 48 to Samford on Nov. 16, 2016. The Aggies held an opponent to the 40-point range twice during the 2015-16 season. During the 2014-15 campaign, the NM State defense held five different teams in the 40s and three different teams in the 30s.
 
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO ROLLS INTO TOWN
This year's contest against Northern New Mexico is scheduled to take place in the Pan American Center. The Eagles come to town with a pair of players with Las Cruces ties on their roster in Kevin Moore and Elijah Neumann.
 
NNMC has won six-straight contests heading into the game while posting an 11-11 overall record and 4-0 in conference play (Association of Independent Institutions). Northern New Mexico's last non-exhibition loss came on Dec. 18, 2017, at Fort Lewis – 106-75. However, NNMC is 0-8 on the season when playing on the road.
 
As a team, the Eagles are ninth in defensive rebounds per game (30.6) amongst NAIA Division II teams and 12th in the rebounds per game category (42.1).
 
Bryce Simmons paces NNMC in scoring with 14.6 points per game with a .453 shooting clip while Walid Aly is averaging 11.7 points. Dominique Josephs leads the Eagles in rebounding, checking in with 6.0 boards per game while Tyrique Weaver is second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game.
 
From the perimeter, Simmons leads all players with 32 while Eric Coca is second on the team with 27 despite playing in just 10 games. Aly's 64 assists is good for a team-lead while Kevin Moore is second on the squad with 53 dimes.
 
LAST TIME OUT
After taking a 32-20 lead at halftime on the road against UMKC, the New Mexico State men's basketball team didn't take its foot off the pedal and claimed a 73-48 victory against the 'Roos on the road. Zach Lofton led the way with 19 points and five boards while Jemerrio Jones posted his 12th double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds while Eli Chuha added 10 points and six rebounds in the win.
 
The Aggies also out-hustled UMKC on the boards in the second-half 30-15. In addition, NM State turned 21 offensive boards into 21 points while converting 16 UMKC turnovers into 18 points. It also dominated the paint to the tune of 42-24.
 

WATCH | Recap of tonight's game with Neil Harwell and Michael Watson. #AggieUp pic.twitter.com/I2L0tZOgyk

— NM State MBB (@NMStateMBB) January 28, 2018

UP NEXT
The Aggies continue their homestand with a 4 p.m. (MT) contest against UT Rio Grande Valley to wrap up the first-half of conference play as it looks to stay undefeated. Adam Young will have the call for Saturday's Broadcast while Rus Bradburd serves as the analyst on the broadcast.