What: Game Twelve 
Who: NM State (8-3, 1-0 CUSA) vs FIU (7-5, 0-1 CUSA) 
When: Friday, Jan. 2, 10:00 a.m. MT 
Where: Miami, Fla. – Ocean Bank Convocation Center (5,000) 

THE OPENING TIP  

• Coming off its final non-conference contest of the season, NM State now turns its full attention to Conference USA play as it continues league action on the road against FIU on Friday, Jan. 2. at 10:00 a.m. as the Aggies begin their first CUSA road swing of the season. 

• Friday's matchup marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs, with NM State holding an 8-1 advantage in the series. The Aggies swept both meetings last season, including a dominant 76-48 victory in the most recent matchup at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces. 

FAMILIAR FACE 

• The Aggies will see a familiar name on the opposing roster as former NM State guard Zawdie Jackson now runs the point for FIU. 

• Jackson spent the 2024–25 season with the Aggies, starting all 32 games while averaging 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest during his lone season in the Crimson & White. 

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. 

DEFENSIVE DISRUPTION 

• NM State continues to establish itself as one of the nation's premier defensive units entering conference play. 

• The Aggies rank ninth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.2%), 13th in three-point percentage defense (27.7%), and 30th in scoring defense, allowing just 65.5 points per game. 

   

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 PANTHERS 

• FIU enters Friday's contest with a 7-5 overall record and a 0-1 mark in Conference USA play. The Panthers are coming off a hard-fought overtime loss at home to league favorite Liberty, falling 97-94 in OT. 

• FIU is led by head coach Jeremy Ballard, now in his eighth season at the helm of the program. 

• The Panthers present a significant challenge on both ends of the floor, ranking 10th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (14.5) while also applying constant defensive pressure. FIU sits ninth in the nation in steals per game (10.8) and 14th in turnovers forced per game (16.4). 

• Offensively, FIU is one of the most efficient scoring teams in the country, ranking 35th nationally in scoring offense at 88.1 points per game. 

• The Panthers are led by Corey Stephenson, who paces the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.0 points and 7.1 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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