What: Game Nine
Who: NM State (5-3, 0-0 WAC) at Saint Mary's (8-3, 0-0 WCC)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. MT
Where: Moraga, Calif. - University Credit Union Pavilion (3,500)
Watch: WCC Network
Listen: Zia Country 99.5 (PxP - Jack Nixon)
Attend: Online Ticket Sales
Stats: Click Here
Follow: Twitter - @NMStateMBB, Instagram - @NMStateMBB, Facebook - NM State Men's Basketball
THE OPENING TIP
• The Aggies are set to wrap up their three-game road swing with quite possibly their toughest matchup of the season as they head into University Credit Union Pavilion to take on a Saint Mary's squad that is receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches' top 25 polls.
• Thus far on the trip, NM State has taken Santa Clara to the brink and beaten a quality Duquesne team by 13 points.
• Wednesday's game will also mark the eighth time in program history that the Aggies will face off with the Gaels, however, the Aggies' lone victory in the series came in the first-ever matchup in 2000.
THE THREE AMIGOS
• Entering Wednesday, the backcourt trio of Xavier Pinson, Deshawndre Washington and DaJuan Gordon are the only three Aggies to appear in the starting lineup in each of the Aggies' first seven games.
• The three guards hailing from Chicago, Ill., also combine to average 35.9 of the Aggies' 79.1 points per game.
TWO POINT GUARDS IS BETTER THAN ONE
• Through the beginning of NM State's season, the two-headed point-guard snake of Deshawndre Washington and Xavier Pinson has served as the centerpiece to the Aggies' early success
• Washington, a 6-7 Northwest Florida State transfer is currently ranked 28th in the nation in assists per game - dishing out a team-high and WAC-best 5.5 helpers while also ranking 58th nationally and pacing the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.59.
• In addition to finishing as the Aggies' assist leader in five of their first eight games, Washington also paces the Crimson & White in points per game - scoring at a clip of 13.5 points a contest.
• Meanwhile, when Washington hasn't been the top assister, Pinson has. For reference, the two guards have combined for 85 of the Aggies' 124 total assists on the season.
• Pinson has also carried his weight in the area of point production as he ranks second on the Aggies with 13.1 points per game.
• In all, the duo ranks 1-2 in points per game, minutes per game, total field goals made, made free throws, assists per game and steals per game.
PREACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PERIMETER
• Entering Sunday's contest, the Aggies are among the best teams in the nation at defending the three ball while also registering nationally-competitive numbers at shooting from range.
• NM State currently ranks 10th in the country in three-point percentage defense - holding teams to an average of 26.4 percent beyond the arc thus far.
• The Aggies also rank inside the top 50 in three-pointers per game (30th) and three-point percentage (44th).
NEW LEADER, SAME PHILOSOPHY
• Under former Head Coach Chris Jans, the Aggies were often seen as a defensive-minded team - limiting teams to an average of 63.5 points while scoring 74.1 points per game.
• Although the sample size is minuscule when compared to the 154 games that the Aggies played under Jans, the Aggies are averaging 79.1 points per game with Greg Heiar at the helm while still holding teams to just 64.0 points per game.
• The Aggies offense also stacks up against some of the best in the country as NM State boasts the 63rd highest scoring offense in the nation and the 82nd-ranked scoring defense.
RESPECT THE RESERVES
• The Aggie bench has scored 20-plus points in five of the eight contests this season, including posting a season-high 52 points two games ago during a 77-35 win over Simon Fraser.
• In total, the Aggie bench is responsible for 34.6% of its total scoring (219/633).
IN THE RANKINGS
• Following a comfortable road win over Duquesne on Sunday, the Aggies jumped 42 spots in the NET ranking - moving from 121 down to 79 to mark the 11th largest single-day increase in the NET ranking this season.
• On the topic, Saint Mary's will represent the highest-ranked team in the NET that the Aggies have seen this season as they currently sit in 15th in the rankings.
• The Gaels have also garnered attention from national voters as they are currently receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches' top 25 polls.
MAJOR MID-MAJOR
• Seven of the Aggies' opponents during the 2022-23 season are featured among the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 rankings, with six of the Aggie opponents among the top 25 while the remaining squad received votes to be included in the rankings.
• Of those seven, the Aggies will see three of them during WAC play (Sam Houston, Grand Canyon and Seattle U).
• The Aggies' Wednesday opponent currently sits at No. 5 to rank behind only Kent State among NM State 2022-23 opponents.
NM STATE ON THIS DATE
• Across the history of the program, the Aggies have played on the 14th of December 22 times in total - boasting an overall record of 9-13.
• The Aggies have earned wins in five of their last eight outings on Dec. 14.
• Of its 22 games, NM State has been on the road 13 times – posting a record of 4-9 in those contests.
SCOUTING THE GAELS
• Amid his 22nd year with the program, the well-respected Randy Bennett will lead Saint Mary's against the Aggies on Wednesday.
• Bennett's success is represented by taking the Gaels to eight NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2010. Bennett's teams have also tallied three solo or shared WCC Championships.
• On the court, the Gaels are led offensively by Australian senior Alex Ducas who averages 13.7 points per game.
• Freshman Aidan Mahaney is on the opposite of the experience spectrum in relation to Ducas, but he will also serve as one of the Gaels' most potent scorers as he enters Wednesday averaging 13.6 points per contest.
• Big man Mitchell Saxen and guard Logan Johnson also average double figures as Saxen posts 13.2 points and Johnson turns in 10.7 points per game.
• After suffering back-to-back-to-back defeats at the hands of Washington, New Mexico and top-ranked Houston, the Gaels have rattled off two straight wins, including a win over then-ranked San Diego State in their most recent outing.
• Starting with NM State, Saint Mary's will be at home for three of their next four matchups.
• The Aggies have met the Gaels seven times in program history, winning only the first-ever meeting against Saint Mary's.
++NM State++
