LAS CRUCES, N.M. - As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and with the health and safety of its student-athletes and coaches in mind, NM State athletics announced today no fans will be permitted at the Aggies' remaining "home" men's and women's basketball games in 2020-21.

Earlier this week, NM State announced the Aggies would be playing their remaining "home" games at Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas. Currently no college athletic competitions are permitted to take place within the state of New Mexico due to the state's COVID-Safe Practices for Intercollegiate Sports. An amendment to these policies was issued on Wednesday, Jan. 20, which permitted college athletic teams in the state of New Mexico to hold full practices for the first time since the spring of 2020.

Current in-state COVID-Safe Practices also state that all individuals who leave the state must quarantine for a period of 14 days upon their return to New Mexico.

"Throughout the entire 2020-21 season, our top priority has always been the health and safety of our men's and women's basketball student-athletes, coaches and staff members," commented NM State Director of Athletics Mario Moccia. "We are overjoyed our teams were able to return to the area to continue their respective seasons. While it was our hope we would be able to allow a limited number of fans to take in Aggie basketball in the area, the health and safety challenges presented made it impossible."

NM State will continue to work with public health agencies at the local and state levels in order to monitor the possibility of allowing attendance at other Aggie "home" events throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year and beyond.

Though fans will not be allowed to take in the Aggies' remaining "home" basketball games in person this season, there will still be a number of ways for NM State faithful to follow the action. All of the Aggies' men's basketball games will be broadcast on Zia Country 99.5 FM and nationwide on the TuneIn app.

Television coverage for each of the Aggies' remaining home games will be available as well. For a complete television and online streaming listing of the Aggies' remaining games, fans are encouraged to visit the men's and women's basketball schedule pages on NMStateSports.com. All coverage options will be listed there and will also be posted on the Aggies' social media pages on game day.

For complete coverage of NM State men's and women's basketball throughout the rest of the 2020-21 season and beyond, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball and NM State Women's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB and @NMStateWBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB and @NMStateWBB).

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