What: Game Twenty-Six
Who: NM State (13-12, 6-6 CUSA) vs Jax State (18-8, 10-3 CUSA)
When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:00 p.m. MT
Where: Jacksonville, Ala. – Pete Mathews Coliseum (5,500)
THE OPENING TIP
• After closing out a three-game homestand with a dominant 28-point victory over FIU, NM State hits the road for one of its final two conference road trips. The Aggies will face off against the current CUSA frontrunner, Jacksonville State, at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 20.
• Thursday's matchup marks just the fourth all-time meeting between these programs, with NM State holding a 2-1 advantage. In their most recent clash, the Gamecocks secured their first-ever win over the Aggies, battling to a 65-59 victory at the Pan American Center.
THE SECOND GO AROUND
• In his debut season leading the Aggies, Coach Hooten guided the Aggies to a 7-9 record in league play and helped deliver 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 overall record, bringing his career head coaching total to 274-188 and setting a strong foundation for the program's future.
• After leading NM State to a 6-9 record in non-conference play last season, the Aggies improved that mark this year and will begin CUSA competition with a 7-6 record.
BY THE NUMBERS
• NM State ranks among the top teams in Conference USA across some key statistical categories. The Aggies boast the second-best field goal percentage defense in the league, holding opponents to just 40.1% shooting - a mark that also ranks 27th nationally. They also sit second in CUSA in scoring defense, allowing just 68.0 points per game.
• The Aggies are particularly effective at defending the perimeter, ranking second in the conference and 11th nationally in three-point percentage defense (29.3%). They also excel on the offensive glass, ranking third in CUSA with 11.5 offensive rebounds per game.
• On the individual side, graduate forward Peter Filipovity leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game (5.7) and is second in total rebounds per game (8.1). He also ranks second in CUSA for double doubles, recording five this season, including two in league play.
• Senior guard Christian Cook has been a consistent scoring presence for the Aggies, ranking 12th in CUSA with 13.5 points per game. He also ranks sixth in the league in total three-pointers made, knocking down 61 on the season.
STATEMENT WINS
• NM State recorded its third 20+ point victory in conference play with a commanding 28-point win over FIU - the most in Conference USA this season. The Aggies' other dominant victories came against Louisiana Tech and UTEP. Liberty is the only other team in the conference with multiple 20+ point wins, tallying two.
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE HISTORY
• Historically, NM State holds a 10-11 record in games played on Feb. 20, including a 6-5 mark at home and a 4-6 record on the road.
• The Aggies last played on this date in 2021, defeating Utah Valley 67-60 at home. One of their most memorable February 20th victories came in 1995, when they edged out UNLV 97-95 in Las Vegas. In their last five games on this date, NM State has posted a perfect 5-0 record.
TOUGH CONFERENCE, TIGHT RACE
• As of February 19, Conference USA stands as one of the most competitive leagues in the nation. Currently ranked as the ninth-best conference out of 31, CUSA sits above notable leagues like the American Athletic Conference and Missouri Valley Conference.
• The race for the top spot is razor-thin, with six teams just three or less games behind first place in the standings - showing the league's depth and competitiveness, making every game a crucial battle for position down the stretch.
JACKSON'S RESURGENCE
• Senior guard Zawdie Jackson has rediscovered his offensive rhythm, delivering standout performances in back-to-back games last week.
• Against Liberty, Jackson led the Aggies with 18 points, shooting 5-11 (45%) from the field and 3-5 (60%) from beyond the arc. He also made five of six free throws and contributed four rebounds.
• He followed that up with an even more efficient outing against FIU, pacing NM State with 21 points and four assists while shooting a stellar 8-11 (72%) from the floor and 4-5 (80%) from three-point range. This marked his second 20+ point performance of the season, with his first coming in a season-high 24-point showing against Utah Tech on Nov. 9.
BENCH BOOST
• The Aggies' scoring success is a true team effort, as they lead Conference USA in bench points per contest, averaging 24.7 per game. Leading the charge is graduate forward Robert Carpenter, who contributes 10.5 points per contest, providing energy and valuable production off the bench for NM State.
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 GAMECOCKS
• Jacksonville State enters Thursday's contest with an 18-8 overall record and a 10-3 mark in CUSA play, currently holding the top spot in the league standings. In their last game, the Gamecocks secured a hard-fought 70-68 road victory over Louisiana Tech.
• The Gamecocks are led by ninth-year head coach Ray Harper who holds a 164-120 record in his time at helm.
• Offensively, Jaron Pierre Jr. headlines the Gamecocks' attack, ranking third nationally in scoring with 21.7 points per game. As a team, Jax State is one of the country's best free-throw shooting squads, ranking 25th shooting 77.4% from the charity stripe. They also take care of the ball at an elite level, committing just 10.1 turnovers per game (30th in the nation).
• On the glass, Mason Nicholson leads Jax State with 7.8 rebounds per game. The Gamecocks are dominant on the defensive boards, ranking 11th nationally with 28.1 defensive rebounds per contest.
• Defensively, Jax State makes life difficult for opponents, ranking 37th in the country in field goal percentage defense by limiting teams to just 40.7% shooting.
For complete coverage of 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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