What: Game Thirty-One
Who: NM State (17-13, 10-7 CUSA) vs Sam Houston (12-18, 5-12 CUSA)
When: Saturday, Mar. 8, 1:30 p.m. MT
Where: Huntsville, Texas – Johnson Coliseum (6,110)
THE OPENING TIP
• Following another strong defensive performance in a 67-55 road win over LA Tech, the Aggies now turn their focus to their final game of the regular season before heading into the CUSA Tournament next week. They'll close out the schedule with an early afternoon matchup against Sam Houston in Huntsville on Saturday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m.
• In the all-time series, the Bearkats hold a slight edge over the Aggies with a 5-3 advantage. However, NM State got the better of Sam Houston in their last meeting, opening CUSA play with a hard-fought 75-71 victory inside 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 continues to rank among the top teams in Conference USA in some key statistical categories. The Aggies have been one of the league's toughest defensive units, holding opponents to just 65.5 points per game - good for the second-lowest scoring defense in CUSA. They also rank first in the conference in field goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to a .394 clip from the field.
• The Aggies have been dominant on the glass, ranking second in CUSA in offensive rebounding with 11.6 per game. On the individual side, graduate forward Peter Filipovity stands as the second-leading rebounder in the league, pulling down 8.2 boards per contest. He also ranks first in CUSA in defensive rebounds per game (5.96)
• Senior guard Christian Cook continues to lead the Aggies in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game - placing him 12th in the conference. He is also one of CUSA's top three-point shooters, ranking seventh in the league in threes made per game (2.3) with 67 total on the season
• Zawdie Jackson has been a steady presence in the backcourt, ranking 10th in CUSA in assists per game (3.3) while also holding the fourth-best assist/turnover ratio in the league (2.3). He has also been efficient at the free-throw line, shooting 80% to rank seventh in CUSA.
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.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
• Graduate forward Peter Filipovity has been the heart of the Aggies this season, consistently making his presence felt through his scoring and rebounding.
• Following a dominant 19-point, 12-rebound performance on the road against LA Tech, Filipovity recorded his eighth double-double of the season - ranking second in Conference USA, trailing only Middle Tennessee's Essam Mostafa, who leads the league with 12.
THE TSHIMANGA EFFECT
• Over the last six games, NM State has committed to a bigger lineup by inserting Nate Tshimanga into the frontcourt alongside his brother, Emmanuel. Despite not starting any previous conference games, Tshimanga has now earned six consecutive starts, and his increased role has paid dividends.
• His usage has jumped significantly, averaging 20.0 minutes per game over the last six contests - up from just 4.4 minutes per game in the previous 10. Since his addition to the starting lineup, NM State's rebounding margin has surged from +0.4 to +8.0, while their blocks per game have increased from 1.7 to 2.2.
BENCH BOOST
• The Aggies' depth has been a driving force behind their success, leading Conference USA in bench points with an impressive 24.8 per game. Graduate forward Robert Carpenter has been a pivotal part in this effort, being a consistent offensive spark, averaging 9.4 points per game off the bench, further solidifying the Aggies' scoring depth.
DEFENSESE LEADS THE CHARGE
• NM State's defense has reached another level, holding five of its last six opponents under 56 points.
• That stretch includes dominant performances against two of CUSA's top-scoring teams, as the Aggies forced Kennesaw State (49) and Western Kentucky (47) to their season-low point totals.
PERIMETER PATROL
• NM State's perimeter defense has been elite this season, ranking third in the nation in three-point percentage defense by holding opponents to just 28% from beyond the arc.
• The Aggies have turned up the defensive pressure even more over their last six games, limiting opponents to a frigid 21.7% (33-152) from deep. Their dominance was on full display against Middle Tennessee, where they smothered the Blue Raiders in the first half, holding them to just 1-13 (8%) from three-point range.
NO EASY NIGHTS
• Conference USA has cemented itself as one of the toughest leagues in college basketball. As of March 5, CUSA and the A-10 are the only two non-Power Four conferences with at least nine teams ranked inside the top 170 in KenPom rankings. CUSA boasts nine of its 10 members in that tier, while the A-10 has 11 of 15 inside the threshold.
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 BEARKATS
• Sam Houston enters the matchup with a 12-18 overall record, including a 5-12 mark in conference play
• The Bearkats are led by Head Coach Chris Mudge, who is in his second season at the helm and has compiled a 33-30 record during his tenure.
• Offensively, Sam Houston is powered by Lamar Wilkerson, who leads the team with 20 points per game - good for second in Conference USA. Wilkerson is also one of the nation's top sharpshooters, ranking eighth in three-point percentage at an impressive 44.5% from beyond the arc.
• As a team, the Bearkats are among the country's best from deep, ranking sixth nationally in three-point shooting with a 39.4% clip.
• On the glass, forward Kalifa Sakho leads the way, averaging a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game.
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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