What: Game Eight
Who: NM State (6-1, 0-0 CUSA) vs Abilene Christian (6-3, 0-0 WAC)
When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m. MT
Where: Abilene, Texas – Moody Coliseum (3,600)
THE OPENING TIP
• After suffering their first loss of the season in a wire-to-wire battle with South Alabama in Katy, Texas, NM State now turns the page to its first true road test of the year as the Aggies travel to Abilene, Texas, to take on Abilene Christian.
• This contest marks the 12th all-time meeting between the programs, with NM State holding a 9–2 edge in the series. However, the Wildcats claimed the most recent matchup – a 78-70 win in Las Cruces on Dec. 4, 2024.
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.
LEADING THE PACK
• Senior guard Jemel Jones continues to pace the Aggies on the offensive end, entering the matchup averaging 16.1 points per game – seventh-best in Conference USA. Jones has also provided strong all-around production with 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, all ranking second on the team.
• In the neutral-site showdown with South Alabama, Jones put together one of his most complete performances of the year, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists, narrowly missing his first double-double of the season.
DEFENSIVE DISRUPTION
• NM State remains one of the nation's stingiest defensive units. The Aggies enter the matchup ranked 12th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37%), 8th in three-point percentage defense (25%) and 21st in scoring defense (64.3 ppg).
OWNING THE GLASS IN CUSA
• As of Dec. 1, Conference USA programs are averaging 39.6 rebounds per game – a figure that ranks third among all Division I conferences. Only the SEC (41.2) and ACC (40.2) average more rebounds per contest, underscoring the physicality and emphasis on the boards that define CUSA competition.
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 made threes in a single game.
SECOND UNIT SURGE
• NM State has been one of the nation's most productive teams off the bench this season, ranking 33rd nationally with 34.5 bench points per game.
• In their most recent outing against South Alabama, the Aggies posted their most explosive bench performance of the year with 49 bench points. Leading the effort were Jayland Randall, who poured in 21 points, and Elijah Elliott, who added 18 points off the bench.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Abilene Christian enters the matchup led by head coach Brette Tanner, now in his fifth year guiding the Wildcats. ACU arrives with a 6-3 record and is coming off a 71-63 road win over Pepperdine on Tuesday.
• Offensively, the Wildcats are powered by senior forward Bradyn Hubbard, who leads the team with 16.4 points per game.
• On the glass, junior forward Joseph Scott anchors ACU's rebounding efforts, averaging a team-high 5.9 rebounds per contest. Keeping Hubbard in check and limiting Scott's activity around the rim will be central to NM State's approach.
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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