What: Game Sixteen 
Who: NM State (9-6, 2-3 CUSA) vs Liberty (13-3, 5-0 CUSA) 
When: Thursday, Jan. 15, 4:00 p.m. MT 
Where: Lynchburg, Va. – Liberty Arena (4,000) 

THE OPENING TIP 

• Following a 1–1 split during their recent homestand in Las Cruces, NM State heads back on the road to begin one of its longest trips of the season, opening the swing with a matchup at Liberty on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. MT in Lynchburg, Va. 

• Wednesday's contest marks just the fifth all-time meeting between the Aggies and Flames. Liberty holds a 3–1 advantage in the series, having won both meetings last season. In the most recent matchup on Feb. 13, 2024, the Flames secured a 64–54 victory in Lynchburg. 

300 WINS 

• NM State's 80–64 home victory over Western Kentucky marked a major milestone for Head Coach Jason Hooten. With the win,  Hooten recorded his 300th career win. This includes 39 wins at NM State and 261 wins as the leader of the Sam Houston program.  

BOOST FROM THE BENCH 

• NM State continues to feature one of the deepest and most productive bench units in the nation as the Aggies rank 24th nationally in bench points per game, averaging 33.8 points per contest from their reserve unit. 

• The Crimson & White bench produced at least 38 points in four consecutive games, a stretch that began against Sam Houston and concluded against Missouri State. 

• The Aggie bench features six players who have scored in double figures off the bench at least once this season.  

1,000 POINT CLUB 

• With a 12-point performance against Western Kentucky, senior guard Elijah Elliott eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career, including 130 points this season for the Crimson & White. The milestone reflects Elliott's scoring impact across stops at Oklahoma Christian, Mount St. Mary's, UTRGV, and Southern Illinois, highlighting his consistency and experience at the Division I level. 

HOME FLOOR ADVANTAGE ACROSS CUSA  

• Within Conference USA matchups, home teams are 23-7 so far this season ... CUSA ranks 11th as a league in the latest KenPom rankings 

DEFENSIVE DISRUPTION 

• NM State continues to establish itself as one of the top defensive teams in Conference USA and nationally. 

• The Aggies rank 12th in the country in field-goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 38.5% shooting.  NM State also sits 24th nationally in three-point percentage defense, limiting opponents to 29.1% shooting from beyond the arc. 

SCOUTING THE FLAMES 

• Liberty enters the matchup with a 13–3 overall record and a perfect 5–0 mark in Conference USA play, currently sitting atop the league standings. 

• The Flames come into the matchup following an 82–74 road victory at Sam Houston. 

• Liberty is led by head coach Ritchie McKay, who is in his 13th season at the helm in Lynchburg. 

• Offensively, the Flames feature a balanced attack spread across their starting five. Junior guard Brent Decker Jr. leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game — the third-highest mark in Conference USA. 

• On the glass, Liberty is anchored by senior forward Zach Cleveland, who leads the team in rebounding and provides a strong interior presence. 

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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