What: Game Seventeen 
Who: NM State (9-7, 2-4 CUSA) vs Delaware (5-12, 1-5 CUSA) 
When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 12:00 p.m. MT 
Where: Newark, Del. – Bob Carpenter Center (5,000) 

THE OPENING TIP 

• Coming off a nail-biting 73–71 loss to Conference USA leader Liberty, NM State will close out its road swing out east with a matchup against CUSA newcomer Delaware on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 12:00 p.m. MT. 

• Saturday's contest marks the first-ever meeting between the Aggies and Blue Hens, as the two programs will face off for the first time in program history. 

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.  

OSBORNE FINDING HIS RHYTHM 

• Sophomore forward Jae'Coby Osborne has begun to hit his stride in recent games for the Aggies. In NM State's last outing against Liberty, Osborne matched his career high with 10 points while setting a new personal best with 12 rebounds, recording the first double-double of his collegiate career. 

• Osborne has shown increased consistency on the offensive end, scoring in double figures in three of his last five contests while continuing to make an impact on the glass. 

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 BLUE HENS 

• Delaware enters the weekend with a 5–12 overall record and a 1–5 mark in Conference USA play. The Blue Hens are coming off a tightly contested home loss, falling 70–69 to UTEP in Newark in their most recent outing. 

• Delaware is led by head coach Martin Ingelsby, who is in his 10th season at the helm of the program and has guided the Blue Hens through their transition into Conference USA. 

• Offensively, Delaware leans heavily on junior guard Christian Bliss, who paces the team with 14.9 points per game. Bliss is one of the most relied-upon players in the nation, ranking first nationally in minutes per game at 39.2, while also serving as the engine of the offense. He ranks 17th nationally in assists per game, dishing out 6.4 per contest. 

• On the boards, the Blue Hens are led by sophomore forward Emory Bacon, who averages a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game and provides a steady presence in the paint. 

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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