LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The wait for the 2025-26 season officially ended Tuesday night as NM State tipped off on Lou Henson Court inside the Pan American Center. With 13 newcomers making their Aggie debuts, the early growing pains were evident, but Head Coach Jason Hooten's squad delivered when it mattered most. Behind standout performances from Jemel Jones and Cyr Malonga, the Aggies (1-0, 0-0 CUSA) defeated Adams State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) 83-72 in a contest that served as an exhibition for the Grizzlies.

The Aggies wasted no time giving fans something to cheer about, as returner Gabe Pickens connected with junior transfer Cyr Malonga for a two-handed alley-oop to put NM State on the board. Moments later, Jemel Jones drilled a three-pointer to give the Aggies a 5-3 lead; one they would hold for the rest of the game.

NM State set the tone early with defensive pressure, forcing multiple turnovers within the opening minutes thanks to active hands from Chris Terrell and Jayland Randall. The Aggies used that intensity to build a 16-point advantage midway through the first half before heading into halftime up 43-36.

Out of the break, NM State picked up right where it left off; using a 15-6 run over the first six minutes of the second half to stretch the lead to 59-42 by the 14:15 mark. During that stretch, Jones poured in seven of his team-high 23 points while Malonga, Julius Mims, and Anthony Wrzeszcz each chipped in key buckets. The Aggies' defense once again fueled the surge, forcing three turnovers and holding the Grizzlies to just two field goals over that span.

The Aggies' largest lead came midway through the second half when Elijah Elliott buried a step-back jumper to make it 70-50 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Despite a late surge from Adams State, NM State's balanced scoring and defensive energy sealed the win, giving Hooten and his new-look roster a 1-0 start to the season.

NUMBERS OF NOTE   

• Junior center Cyr Malonga had a career night, posting 16 points on 7-9 shooting while grabbing six rebounds and adding two blocks.

• Jemel Jones became the first Aggie of the season to record 20+ points, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 8-14 shooting, including 3-4 from three.

• NM State's defense was relentless, forcing 22 turnovers; the most since Dec. 19, 2024, when they did the same against Northern New Mexico.

• The Aggies also recorded 15 steals, matching their season-high from last year's opener versus New Mexico Highlands (Nov. 4, 2024).

• Forward Julius Mims nearly notched a double-double in his Aggie debut, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 24 minutes.

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