What: Game Eleven
Who: NM State (7-3, 1-0 CUSA) vs University of the Southwest (4-9, 1-6 RRAC)
When: Sunday, Dec. 28, 2:00 p.m. MT
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Pan American Center (12,200)
THE OPENING TIP
• Coming off an impressive home victory last Sunday to open Conference USA play against Sam Houston, NM State turns its attention to its final non-conference matchup of the season as it welcomes the University of the Southwest to the Pan American Center on Sunday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m.
• Sunday's contest marks just the third all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Aggies holding a 2–0 series advantage. The teams last met a year ago on the same date in Las Cruces, where NM State pulled away for an 85–52 victory.
PERIMETER LOCKDOWN
• NM State is one of just five Division I programs to hold opponents under 30.0 percent shooting from three-point range last season and has continued that defensive standard into the current campaign. The Aggies join Tennessee, Montana, Dartmouth and Appalachian State as the only teams in the nation to accomplish the feat in both seasons. NM State currently ranks 50th nationally in three-point percentage defense, limiting opponents to 29.8% from beyond the arc.
BOOST FROM THE BENCH
• NM State's depth once again proved to be a difference-maker, as Elijah Elliott and Jayland Randall delivered impactful performances off the bench to help lift the Aggies in their Conference USA opener against Sam Houston.
• Elliott matched his season high with 18 points to lead NM State in scoring, marking the second time this season he has finished as the Aggies' top scorer while coming off the bench. Randall wasn't far behind, pouring in 16 points for his second-highest total of the season as the duo combined to provide a major spark for the Crimson & White.
• This marked the second time this season that Elliott and Randall have finished as NM State's top two scorers while coming off the bench, highlighting the Aggies' ability to lean on their reserve unit.
• NM State's bench overwhelmed Sam Houston, outscoring the Bearkats 46–17. The 46 bench points marked the Aggies' second-highest reserve output of the season, trailing only their 49-point bench performance against South Alabama.
PUNCH FROM THE POST
• Julius Mims delivered strong performances in the last outing against Sam Houston. Mims has been a steady presence all season, averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game which is also ranked eighth in CUSA. Against the Sam Houston, he flirted with double-double finishing the night with nine points while also leading NM State with nine rebounds. Mims has now led the Aggies in rebounding in six of ten games this season.
IN THE PAN AM
• NM State has thrived in front of its home crowd this season, posting a perfect 5-0 record inside the Pan American Center.
• In home games, the Aggies own a +10.6 scoring margin, shooting 47.5% from the field while holding opponents to just 38.8% shooting.
• A few Aggies have elevated their play at home, led by Jones, who is averaging 16.6 points per game in the Pan Am. Julius Mims is averaging 11.5 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting an impressive 67% from the field, and Anthony Wrzeszcz is contributing 10.8 points per game while knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 48% clip.
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.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
• University of the Southwest enters Sunday's matchup with a 4–9 record and arrives in Las Cruces following a 90–66 road loss to Texas A&M–Texarkana.
• The Mustangs are led by first-year head coach Steven Barker and feature a pair of key contributors in EJ Scroggins and Donovan Holcombe.
• Scroggins leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Holcombe provides additional production at 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.
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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