What: Game Twelve
Who: NM State (5-6, 0-0 CUSA) vs Northern New Mexico (3-15, 0-0 CAC)
When: Thursday, Dec. 19, 7:00 p.m. MT
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Pan American Center (12,572)
THE OPENING TIP
• After securing a gritty 72-69 win over Southern Utah in the WAC/Conference USA Challenge, the Aggies shift their focus to the second game of a five-game homestand. NM State will host Northern New Mexico on Thursday, Dec. 19, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
• Thursday's matchup marks the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs. The Aggies claimed victory in their most recent encounter, earning a 76-71 win last season inside the Pan American Center.
THE SECOND GO AROUND
• In his debut season leading the Aggies, Coach Hooten delivered several memorable highlights, including a thrilling win over I-10 rival UTEP, a remarkable 23-point second-half comeback to defeat eventual CUSA Tournament Champion Western Kentucky, and an impressive 12-3 record on their home court at the Pan American Center. NM State's home support was unmatched, as the Aggies led all Conference USA programs in average home attendance, drawing 5,638 fans per game. Hooten wrapped up his first season with a 13-19 record, bringing his career head coaching total to 274-188 and setting a strong foundation for the program's future.
DOMINATING THE BOARDS
• Controlling the glass has been a cornerstone of NM State's success this season, and the Aggies are turning their emphasis on rebounding into a clear advantage. They now rank 37th nationally with an impressive 40.5 rebounds per game. Their dominance is particularly evident on the offensive end, where they rank 47th in the country, averaging 13.4 offensive boards per contest.
THE COOK-BOOK
• Senior guard Christian Cook has found his stride offensively this season, shaking off a slow start to deliver his fourth-straight double-digit scoring effort of the season. On Monday against Southern Utah as he posted a team-high 19 points in the home victory. This marked the eighth time Cook has tallied 10 or more points this season as he has only failed to do so three times this year. Last year, Cook tallied double digits in 17 of the Aggies' 32 games.
• His best performance this season came in a thrilling sold-out overtime clash against I-25 rival New Mexico, Cook erupted for a Division I career-high 27 points, draining six three-pointers – the third time in his career he's hit that mark. He was also incredibly efficient, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
• Currently, Cook's 14.5 points per game ranks 10th among Conference USA scorers. Cook has also connected on a team-high 31 three-pointers and ranks third in CUSA in three-pointers per game (2.82) and is second in the league in total threes made.
NON-CON CONTROL
• NM State enters Thursday's game with a 5-6 record across its 2024 non-conference slate. With two out-of-conference opponents remaining on the schedule, NM State will look to head into league play with a winning record.
• Should the Aggies earn victories over both Northern New Mexico and the University of the Southwest, NM State would put forth a record of above .500 for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
PROTECT THE PAN AM
• NM State will look to piece together its 19th consecutive season with a winning record inside the Pan American Center. Since the start of the 2005-06 campaign, the Aggies are an incredible 256-44 (.853) in front of their home crowd. During this stretch, NM State had just one season with five or more losses as it finished 13-5 in 2010-11.
• This year, the Aggies currently boast a 3-1 record at home and are maintaining an average scoring margin of +8.0. At home the Aggies are shooting 44.8% from the field while limiting opponents to 38.3% from the field. Meanwhile, NM State holds an average scoring margin of -6.8 and are shooting 42.2% in road games.
• Additionally, all but one Aggie currently holds a higher scoring average in home games that they do in road contests. Christian Cook is the lone individual scoring more points in road games than in home games as he averages 14.0 points per game at home compared to 17.8 points per game on the road.
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE HISTORY
• The Aggies hold a 14-11 all-time record in games played on Dec. 19.
• Inside the confines of the Pan American Center, NM State has performed well on this date, boasting a 9-4 record.
• The most recent game played on this date came last season, when the Aggies narrowly fell on the road to Stephen F. Austin, 72-75.
• One of the most memorable victories on Dec. 19 came in 1991, when the Aggies earned an 76-68 road win over Texas Tech. Five different Aggies scored in double figures that night, including 5'8 guard Sam Crawford, who delivered 14 points and seven assists.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
• With the evolution of college sports through the transfer portal, teams are increasingly embracing yearly roster overhauls — and NM State is no exception, welcoming seven new players through the portal this season.
• The incoming group includes Dionte Bostick, Carl Cherenfant, Peter Filipovity, Zawdie Jackson, Edward Nnamoko, and brothers Emmanuel and Nate Tshimanga. In the backcourt, Bostick, Cherenfant, and Jackson will add depth and energy, joining returning guards Christian Cook and Jaden Harris to maintain NM State's backcourt play. Meanwhile, in the frontcourt, the Aggies have intentionally added size and versatility with Filipovity (6'7"), Nnamoko (6'10"), Nate Tshimanga (6'10"), and Emmanuel Tshimanga (7'0").
• Bostick, Filipovity, and Jackson are expected to be immediate impact players, each having excelled at their previous schools. Bostick arrives from Cal State Northridge, where he averaged 15.4 points and four rebounds per game while leading the team with 49 three-pointers, earning an All-Big West Honorable Mention.
• Filipovity, joining from the University of Maine, was a standout for the Black Bears, putting up 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He also recorded nine double-doubles and earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors.
• Jackson brings an impressive resume from West Georgia, where he posted one of the program's best seasons, averaging 22 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game with an elite shooting split of 51% from the field, 45% from three, and 85% from the line. His contributions were pivotal in leading his team to a GSC regular season and tournament championship and a South Region semifinals appearance. Jackson's stellar play earned him titles as both the GSC and South Region Player of the Year, along with First Team All-American honors.
LOOK WHO'S BACK
• This season, the Aggies welcome back four returners from last year's roster: Christian Cook, Robert Carpenter, Jaden Harris, and Christopher Biekeu. Despite significant roster changes, these returning players bring valuable experience and key contributions to NM State's lineup.
• Head Coach Hooten managed to retain a substantial portion of last season's three-point shooting prowess with the return of Christian Cook, Robert Carpenter, and Jaden Harris, who collectively accounted for 58% of the Aggies' three-point field goals. Leading the charge from beyond the arc, Christian Cook was last season's top scorer for the Aggies, averaging 11.3 points per game and sinking 59 three-pointers — the most on the team. Harris proved himself a reliable shooter, hitting 36% from deep, while Carpenter was highly efficient, shooting 35% from three-point range and 47% from the field overall. Together, they were responsible for 38% of the team's scoring last season, combining for 810 points.
• Also returning is forward Christopher Biekeu, who showed promise before a season-ending injury limited him to only six minutes in his lone appearance against Cal Baptist. Biekeu's comeback adds depth to the Aggies' frontcourt, and his return from injury provides the team with an additional physical presence inside.
THE BROTHERLY CONNECTION
• Amidst the roster changes, Coach Hooten successfully brought a pair of brothers, Emmanuel and Nate Tshimanga, to play together in the Crimson and White. This marks the first time the Tshimanga brothers will share the court at the Division I level. Their arrival brings a unique family bond to NM State, adding depth and chemistry to the Aggie lineup.
• Emmanuel Tshimanga joins NM State after two seasons at UC San Diego, where he consistently demonstrated his ability to impact the game off the bench. In the 2023-24 season, Emmanuel averaged 14.1 minutes over 22 games, ranking third on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game and setting a personal best of two steals against Pepperdine. In his previous season (2022-23), he was recognized as the UCU Athlete of the Week and put up impressive performances, including a career-high 13 rebounds in a win at Eastern Michigan and an 18-point effort against UC Santa Barbara. He appeared in 24 games, making ten starts, and was the team's second-leading rebounder with 6.2 boards per game.
• Nate Tshimanga arrives in Las Cruces following a season at Utah Valley, where he played in all 32 games, made six starts, and contributed an average of 13.4 minutes per contest. Known for his efficiency, he shot 46% from the field, averaging 2.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Prior to Utah Valley, Nate spent the 2022-23 season at Troy University, where he played in 21 games, made four starts, and finished second on the team in field goal percentage (50%). He posted a season-high 12 points and nine rebounds against Montevallo.
ACCORDING TO OTHERS
• In the Conference USA preseason poll announced on Oct. 10, the Aggies were picked to finish seventh, with Christian Cook as their sole representative on the Preseason All-Conference Team. This projection follows a 2022-23 season where NM State posted a 13-19 overall record and a 7-9 record in conference play.
• Louisiana Tech emerged as the preseason favorite, securing three first-place votes and 87 points. Western Kentucky followed closely in second place with 85 points and two first-place votes, while Sam Houston was projected third with 83 points and three first-place nods. Middle Tennessee landed in fourth with 69 points and one first-place vote, while UTEP and Liberty tied for fifth at 62 points, with Liberty also receiving one first-place vote.
• NM State holds the seventh position with 39 points in the coaches' poll, followed by Jacksonville State with 29 points. FIU and Kennesaw State rounded out the standings, tied for ninth place with 17 points each.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
• Northern New Mexico comes into Thursday's matchup with a 3-15 record. In their most recent outing, they dropped a hard-fought road game to North American University, 58-46. Last season, the Eagles wrapped up the year with an 8-12 record.
• The Eagles are guided by Head Coach Jesus Aragon, who is now in his third year at the helm, holding a 19-36 record during his tenure.
• Offensively, the Eagles lean heavily on forward Nigel Quaynor, who leads the team with 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Containing Quaynor will be a key focus for the Aggies as they look to secure a victory.
For complete coverage of NM State Men's Basketball, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateMBB), Instagram (@NMStateMBB), and like us on Facebook (NMStateMBB).
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