What: Game Thirteen
Who: NM State (6-6, 0-0 CUSA) vs University of the Southwest (7-6, 0-0 RRAC)
When: Saturday, Dec. 28, 4:00 p.m. MT
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Pan American Center (12,572)
THE OPENING TIP
• Fresh off an 87-50 victory over Northern New Mexico at home, the Aggies are set to close out their non-conference slate with a matchup against the University of the Southwest on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 4 p.m. MT.
• Saturday's matchup will mark just the second meeting between the two programs. The Aggies dominated the inaugural matchup last season, securing an 84-49 win.
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 31st nationally with an impressive 40.5 rebounds per game. Their dominance is particularly evident on the offensive end, where they rank 41st in the country, averaging 13.3 offensive boards per contest.
• Additionally, the Aggies lead all CUSA teams in the number of players with multiple games of 10 or more rebounds this season. Four Aggies have achieved this feat: Peter Filipovity (3), Nate Tshimanga (3), Robert Carpenter (2) and Emmanuel Tshimanga (2). The next closest team, Jacksonville State, has only two players with multiple double-digit rebounding games.
THE COOK-BOOK
• Senior guard Christian Cook has hit his offensive stride this season, rebounding from a slow start to record his fifth consecutive double-digit scoring performance. In Thursday's win over Northern New Mexico, Cook led the team with 13 points, showcasing his efficiency by shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc - all in just 17 minutes of action, his lowest playing time of the season. This outing marked the ninth time Cook has scored 10 or more points this year, with only three games falling short of that mark. For comparison, Cook reached double figures in 17 of the Aggies' 32 games last season.
• 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 14.4 points per game ranks 10th among Conference USA scorers. Cook has also connected on a team-high 34 three-pointers and ranks third in CUSA in three-pointers per game (2.83) and third in the league in total threes made.
NON-CON CONTROL
• NM State enters Saturday's game with a 6-6 record across its 2024 non-conference slate. With one out-of-conference opponent remaining on the schedule, NM State will look to head into league play with a winning record.
• Should the Aggies earn victories over 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 257-44 (.854) 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.
IT STARTS AT THE POINT
• Zawdie Jackson has been a key figure in the Aggies' offense, being a pillar in both ball facilitation and protection. Early this season, Jackson has showcased his ability to take care of the basketball, ranking third in Conference USA in assist-to-turnover ratio (minimum 3 assists per game) with an impressive 2.20 average. He also plays a vital role in creating opportunities for his teammates, leading the Aggies and ranking fifth in CUSA with 3.67 assists per game.
• Jackson's standout performance this season came against Utah Tech, where he delivered his season-high 24 points on an incredibly efficient 9-of-11 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range. In addition to his scoring, he contributed seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals, displaying his dynamic and well-rounded skill set.
THE PETER EFFECT
• Peter Filipovity has established himself as a crucial player for the Aggies, excelling on the boards and as a consistent scoring threat. This season, he is averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game. His 7.7 rebounds per game also rank him sixth in Conference USA. Filipovity's performances highlight his ability to secure double-doubles, as he leads NM State with three this season, ranking second in CUSA behind Middle Tennessee's Essam Mostafa.
• Over the last three games, Filipovity has elevated his play, averaging 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. His standout performance came against Southern Utah, where he recorded a season-high 18 points along with nine rebounds. Filipovity was also highly efficient in that game, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
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 MUSTANGS
• The University of the Southwest enters Thursday's matchup with a 7-6 record. In their most recent outing, the Mustangs came up short in a tightly contested conference road game against Louisiana Christian, falling 85-78. This marked their second consecutive loss. Last season, the Mustangs finished with a 15-16 overall record.
• The Mustangs are led by Head Coach James Voight who is now in his fourth year leading the program, holding an overall record of 44-54 in his tenure.
• Offensively, the Mustangs rely on senior forward Jacob Kootz, who leads the team with an average of 15.1 points per game. On the glass, senior guard Rahkiem Petterson provides a strong presence, pacing the team with 6.3 rebounds per contest. The Aggies will need to contain these key contributors to come away with a victory.
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