NEW MEXICO GAME NOTES | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team (1-0) will play its first of two games against the New Mexico State Aggies (1-0) Sunday at 7 p.m. in Las Cruces, New Mexico, continuing the historic Rio Grande Rivalry.
The Lobos are coming off a season-opening win over Texas Southern Friday evening, 86-57. It was the 13th straight season-opening win for New Mexico, and a fantastic display on both offense and defense. The Lobos’ 84 points was the most they have scored since March 13, 2014. Overall, the Lobos shot 59.3 percent (32-for-54) from the floor. Most impressively, New Mexico held Texas Southern to 34.7 percent (17-for-49) shooting. The Lobos kept up their defensive intensity for a full 40 minutes, holding the Tigers to 34.6 percent in the first half and 34.8 percent in the second.
As he did in both preseason exhibitions, Cullen Neal led the Lobos in scoring with 22 points. Newcomers Tim Williams and Elijah Brown each scored in double figures, with 17 and 16, respectively. The two combined to shoot 13-for-17 from the floor.
The Aggies are also coming off a season-opening home win over Houston Baptist, 91-69. WAC Preseason Player of the Year Pascal Siakam collected a double-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Prior to opening the season, the Aggies were predicted to win the WAC Championship this year by both the media and coaches. Ian Baker is also slated for a big year, being selected Preseason All-WAC First Team.
The Coaches:
This weekend, Neal is entering his third season as head coach of the Lobos and his ninth year with the university. Neal holds a 43-23 overall record as a head coach. Friday’s win makes him 3-0 in season-openers, while also holding a 3-1 record against the Aggies as the leader of the Lobos. Marvin Menzies enters his ninth year leading the Aggies. He has led his squad to four straight WAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths from 2012-2015.
Series History:
New Mexico and New Mexico State will face off for the 215th time in the Lobos’ oldest rivalry. UNM holds a 118-96 advantage in the series, which began in the 1903-04 season. UNM has won 13 of the last 16 Rio Grande Rivalry meetings with Craig Neal on the sidelines (2007-08 to present). The Lobos are currently on a seven game winning streak in Las Cruces.
Broadcast Information:
New Mexico State will be streaming Sunday’s game on its platform, AggieVision. It will also be streamed on ESPN3. The game will be televised on the following channels:
FOX Sports Arizona (DirecTV: 686 SD/HD; Dish 415 SD/5415 HD)
FOX Sports Southwest (DirecTV: 676 SD/HD; Dish 416 SD/5416 HD)
FOX College Sports Central
Altitude (DirecTV 681; Dish 413)
For fans tuning in on the radio, Robert Portnoy will give the play-by-play action alongside analyst and Lobo great Hunter Greene on 770 KKOB, the flagship station of the New Mexico Lobos. This feed will also be available via the TuneIn Radio App.