What: Game Ten 
Who: NM State (6-3, 0-0 CUSA) vs Sam Houston (7-3, 0-0 CUSA) 
When: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2:00 p.m. MT 
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Pan American Center (12,200) 

THE OPENING TIP  

• After a five-game road stretch and nearly a month away from Las Cruces, NM State returns to the Pan American Center on Sunday, Dec. 21, to open Conference USA play against Sam Houston. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. 

• Sunday's matchup marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs. Sam Houston holds a 6–3 advantage in the series, including a 76–69 win over the Aggies last season in Huntsville, Texas, in their final game of the regular season. 

HISTORIC START  

• The Aggies' 6-0 opening this season marked their best start in more than 50 years. The last NM State team to begin a season this fast was the 1969–70 Final Four team, linking this year's group to one of the most storied runs in program history.  

  

PUNCH FROM THE POST 

• The Aggies' frontcourt duo of Julius Mims and Cyr Malonga delivered strong performances in the last outing against Tulsa. Mims has been a steady presence all season, averaging 9.4 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Against the Golden Hurricane, he posted his second consecutive double-figure scoring effort, finishing with 16 points, while also leading NM State with five rebounds. Mims has now led the Aggies in rebounding in five of nine games this season. 

• Malonga turned in one of his most efficient performances of the year, recording his second-highest scoring output with 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field. The double-digit effort marked his second such performance of the season, and he also set a career high in made free throws, going 5-8 at the line. 

  

LEADING THE PACK  

• Senior guard Jemel Jones continues to spearhead the Aggies' offense, entering the matchup averaging 16.2 points per game, which ranks seventh in Conference USA. Jones has also contributed across the stat sheet, averaging 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. 

 • Jones is currently one of just 10 players in Conference USA ranked inside the top 25 in both scoring and rebounding, and one of only three players 6-foot-4 or shorter to appear on that list. 

• His strong start to the season has earned national recognition, as Jones was named to the Lou Henson Player of the Year Early Season Watch List, an award presented annually to the nation's top mid-major player. 

IN THE PAN AM 

• NM State has thrived in front of its home crowd this season, posting a perfect 4-0 record inside the Pan American Center. 

• In home games, the Aggies own a +11 scoring margin, shooting 46 percent from the field while holding opponents to just 39 percent shooting. 

• A few Aggies have elevated their play at home, led by Jones, who is averaging 18.0 points per game in the Pan Am. Julius Mims is averaging 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting an impressive 75% from the field, and Anthony Wrzeszcz is contributing 10.8 points per game while knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 52.6% clip. 

DEFENSIVE DISRUPTION   

• NM State remains one of the nation's stingiest defensive units. The Aggies enter the matchup ranked 35th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (39.4%) and 52nd in three-point percentage defense (29.4%).  

  

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCES   

• NM State saw major lifts from its reserve unit in the matchup with South Alabama, highlighted by standout efforts from Jayland Randall and Elijah Elliott. Both guards delivered their most impactful outings of the season, with each setting season highs – and even career marks in key categories.   

• Randall led all Aggies with 21 points off the bench, notching his highest scoring output in the Crimson & White and finishing just three points shy of his career best of 24.   

• Elliott also put together his top scoring performance as an Aggie, closing the night with 18 points and three assists. He caught fire from deep, going 6-12 from three-point range to establish a new career high in madethrees in a single game. 

SCOUTING THE BEARKATS 

• Sam Houston enters conference play with a 7–3 record and is coming off an 85–75 road victory over Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon. 

• The Bearkats are led by head coach Chris Mudge, now in his third season at the helm after taking over the program when Jason Hooten departed to become NM State's head coach. 

• Sam Houston looks to speed opponents up, thriving in transition with 18.1 fastbreak points per game (15th nationally) and backing it up with a strong presence on the glass at 42.9 rebounds per game, ranking 13th in the country. 

• Defensively, the Bearkats limit perimeter looks, ranking 21st nationally in three-point percentage defense (27.5%), while graduate guard Kashie Natt leads the way offensively, pacing Sam Houston in both scoring (12.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.4 rebounds per game). 

For complete coverage of the 2025-26 season 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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