What: Game Eleven - WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational
Who: NM State (6-4, 0-0 WAC) vs. Kent State (8-3, 0-0 MAC)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m. MT
Where: El Paso, Texas - Don Haskins Center (11,619)

Watch: TBA
Listen: Zia Country 99.5 (PxP - Jack Nixon)
Attend: Online Ticket Sales
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Follow: Twitter - @NMStateMBB, Instagram - @NMStateMBB, Facebook - NM State Men's Basketball

THE OPENING TIP                                      
• NM State heads to El Paso for a second time this season after defeating Northern New Mexico 95-53 on Sunday.
• Unlike their usual visits to West Texas, the Aggies will not be facing off with I-10 rival UTEP. Instead, they will take on Kent State in the first round of the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
• The contest between the Aggies and Golden Flashes will serve as the first of two tournament games in the Don Haskins Center as the Aggies will then play either North Carolina A&T or meet up with UTEP for a third time this season on Thursday evening.
 
SUN BOWL TOURNAMENT HISTORY     
• Wednesday's tilt against Kent State will mark the first time that the Aggies compete in the long-standing Sun Bowl holiday basketball tournament since 1961.
• The Aggies are 1-1 all-time in the Sun Bowl Invitational, with a 67-54 win over Baylor representing their lone victory.
• Meanwhile, this will be Kent State's fourth time playing in the tournament, including taking home the title in 1999.
 
BOTH TEAMS WIN BIG         
• NM State and Kent State have built reputations as strong mid-major programs and both teams flexed their muscles the last time they took the court.
• The Aggies are coming off a 42-point win over Northern New Mexico while the Golden Flashes most recently earned a 50-point win over Concord at home.
• Winning big is not something these two programs are unfamiliar with either as NM State enters Wednesday with a scoring margin of +15.0 to rank 25th in the nation while Kent State holds a scoring margin of +15.5 to rank 21st in the country.
 
PASSING AT THE POINT     
• Deshawndre Washington and Xavier Pinson have been one of the most prolific backcourts in the country and are currently averaging a combined 9.7 assists per game.
• Washington currently leads the WAC with 5.1 assists per game while Pinson ranks third in the conference at 4.6 helpers per game.
• With those stat lines, Washington and Pinson are one of only two backcourts in the country to each rank inside the top three in assists per game in their respective conference.
• The only other duo to have similar production this season is Colgate's Tucker Richardson (4.5 apg) and Braeden Smith (4.4 apg) who rank first and second in the Patriot League.
 
HOME IS WHERE WE ARE HAPPIEST     
• With four of its six wins coming on Lou Henson Court, the Aggies have been handling business at home.
• The Aggies are currently averaging 92 points per game while opponents are averaging just 52.5 points.
• NM State also favors its home hoops as they are shooting 48.9% from the field inside the Pan American Center compared to its 41.7 average shooting percentage in road games.
 
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 10 games.
• The three guards who all hail from Chicago, Ill., also combine to average 35.4 of the Aggies' 79.6 points per game.
 
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 79.6 points per game with Greg Heiar at the helm while still holding teams to just 64.6 points per game.
• The shooting percentage of Aggie opponents also reflects the strength on the defensive side of the ball as the Aggies currently rank 17th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 37.8 percent from the field.
 
PREACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PERIMETER            
• Entering Sunday's contest, the Aggies are also among the best teams in the nation at defending the three-ball.
• NM State currently ranks 23rd in the country in three-point percentage defense - holding teams to an average of 27.9 percent beyond the arc thus far.
 
RESPECT THE RESERVES                        
• The Aggie bench has scored 20-plus points in more than half of their contests this season, including posting a season-high 52 points during a 77-35 win over Simon Fraser.
• In total, the Aggie bench is responsible for 34% of its total scoring (271/796) while also ranking 61st in the nation in points per game at 27.1.
 
NM STATE ON THIS DATE
• Across the history of the program, the Aggies have played on the 21st of December a total of 26 times - boasting an overall record of 16-10.
• Wednesday will mark the second time the Aggies play in El Paso on Dec. 21 as played there in 1949 as well.
• This will mark the Aggies' first-ever neutral site game on Dec. 21.
• Notably, the Aggies are on a six-game winning streak on this date with their most recent victory coming over Oral Roberts in 2015.
• The Aggies first played on this date in 1912.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES       
• Kent State will enter Wednesday's contest with Head Coach Rob Senderoff at the helm. Senderoff is currently in his 12th year with the program and is coming off a MAC Coach of the Year distinction in 2021-22 when he led the Golden Flashes to one of the most successful seasons in program history.
• Last year, Kent State finished with an overall record of 23-11 and an appearance in the MAC Tournament Championship game to close out a season that included the second-longest win streak in program history at 14 games.
• This season, the Golden Flashes have put together an 8-3 record with losses coming to Charleston, No. 3 Houston and No. 11 Gonzaga.
• As a team, the Golden Flashes are currently one of the top teams in the country in terms of turnovers - ranking 11th among DI teams in turnover margin (+5.6) while ranking 17th in turnovers forced per game (18.09).
• Individually, Kent State is led in scoring by 2021-22 MAC Player of the Year Sincere Carry who enters Wednesday averaging 17.3 points per game, including a 31-point outburst against Baldwin Wallace on Nov. 10.
• Malique Jacobs and Miryne Thomas are also averaging double figures this season as Jacobs posts 13.1 points per game while Thomas averages 11.6.
• On the glass, Cli'Ron Hornbeak leads the way for Kent State by way of averaging 6.6 rebounds per game.
• Similar to the Aggies, Kent State is perfect at home with a 6-0 record, however, they are just 2-3 away from Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. Wednesday will be the Golden Flashes first neutral site game of the season.
• This will also mark the first time in program history that the Aggies and Golden Flashes will compete against one another.