LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's basketball team welcomes CSUN to the Pan American Center this Wednesday, Dec. 19, for a 7 p.m. (MT) tilt for its second game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Aggie fans can catch the game Wednesday on the WAC Digital Network. 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.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State men's basketball team all season long 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 contest can catch the game by listening to NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon and former Aggie Justin Hawkins on 99.5 Zia Country and affiliate stations on the Aggie Sports Network listed below or via TuneIn.
 
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
 
THE GREAT TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Prior to the men's game on Dec. 19, kids and adults alike have the opportunity to meet and take pictures with Santa Claus. During the first-half of the game, Saint Nick will be accompanied by members of the United States Marine Corp. and Patty Groth from the Toys for Tots Foundation for a special on-court recognition. Fans are encouraged bring stuff animals to partake in the "Great Teddy Bear Toss" at halftime during the men's game on Wednesday game versus CSUN. Stuffed animals will then be distributed to under-privileged youth in Southern New Mexico.

TOMORROW | THE GREAT TEDDY BEAR HALFTIME TOSS

Bring a stuffed animal or toy to Wednesday night's game and then throw to the court at halftime to benefit @ToysForTots_USA

(There are also toy collection boxes on the north concourse)#AggieUp | #TeddyBearToss pic.twitter.com/EyBG1oqUJA

— NM State MBB (@NMStateMBB) December 18, 2018

SCOUTING THE MATADORS
The CSUN Matadors make their first trip back to Las Cruces since the only meeting between the two programs on Nov. 26, 1990, a 120-62 win in favor of NM State. Heading into Wednesday's contest, the Matadors are 3-7 on the year, picking up wins over Tennessee State (80-77) at home, Pepperdine (90-83) on the road, and Cal State San Marcos (76-72) at home.
 
CSUN is under the direction of first-year head coach Mark Gottfried, who comes with an exemplary coaching background in both the ACC and SEC with 11 total NCAA Tournament appearances – including a pair of Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight appearance.
 
The Matadors have played a pair of similar opponents to NM State this year, starting with a last-second loss to New Mexico at home, 87-84, before falling 103-94 to Washington State in Pullman. In its opening-round game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, CSUN was bested by San Diego 82-68 on the road.
 
Lamine Diane leads a trio of Matadors in the double-digit scoring column, averaging 24.6 points and 10.2 rebounds on the year. Terrell Gomez is no slouch in the scoring column himself, boasting 17.4 points per game with a team-high 29 made 3-pointers.
 
IN THE NATION
Heading into Wednesday's contest against CSUN, the Aggies are ranked 23rd nationally in the rebounding margin category (7.7). Individually, Ivan Aurrecoechea's .625 shooting clip through games on Dec. 17, ranks him 24th best in the country.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Backed by Ivan Aurrecoechea's second-career double-double at the Division I level and 18 points from Eli Chuha, the New Mexico State men's basketball team cruised past Northern Colorado at home 74-62 in its opening game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. The Spaniard finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting with 10 boards and a pair of assists.
 
There were a lot of back-and-forth scoring spurts early on, but 20-8 run to end the first-half was too much to overcome for Northern Colorado. Jabari Rice also added eight points off the bench for NM State with four rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting while C.J. Bobbitt and AJ Harris added seven points apiece.
 
In addition to the Aggies getting back on the win-column, Trevelin Queen was cleared by the NCAA to join the active roster for NM State. The Glen Burnie, Md., native saw 5:46 minutes of action in his first Division I game, entering the game with 4:30 left in the first-half.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State now heads to Las Vegas, Nev., for the second portion of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena. The Aggies will first take on Drake (7-2) this Saturday, Dec. 22, at 5:30 p.m. (MT) on FS2 before playing on Sunday, Dec. 23, against a familiar foe in Washington State or San Diego. A win Saturday will have NM State playing in the 5:30 p.m. (MT) game on FS1 while a loss will have NM State playing in the 8 p.m. game on FS2. For a complete listing of live-stats links for the entire tournament, click here.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Aggies will wrap up the 2018 calendar year on the road with a Sunday tilt against Colorado State to complete the contract with the Rams. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. (MT) on the AT&T Sports Network on Sunday, Dec. 30.