UNM Game Notes | USU Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After a 2-0 start to Mountain West play, the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team will look to take its momentum to Logan, Utah, on Wednesday night as the Lobos will take on the Utah State Aggies at 9 p.m. MT on ESPNU (Comcast 281/815 (HD), Dish 141, DirecTV 208).
The 2-0 start for the Lobos is the fifth straight season they have started with two straight victories. The Lobos claimed a 78-73 win over Fresno State last Wednesday before their come-from-behind 68-62 victory over San Diego State in San Diego on Sunday.
The Lobos continue to be dominant at the free-throw line as they are ranked first in the country in KenPom’s Free Throw Rate stat (53.4) and Free Throw Point Distribution (28.8). They are fourth in the nation in free throw makes and lead the conference in free throw percentage (76.0).
On the season, the Lobos are shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from the 3-point line. Tim Williams continues to lead the Lobos in the scoring column, averaging 17.6 points per game. He also continues to lead the conference in field goal percentage at 57.5 percent. Elijah Brown is also a scoring threat for the Lobos at 16.7 points per game. He is dominating at the free throw line, making 26 of his last 26.
Utah State is 6-7 on the season and 0-2 to start Mountain West play. The Aggies fell to Boise State last Wednesday, 83-80, and to Air Force on Saturday, 78-73. The Aggies are currently on a three-game skid.
The Aggies are led by Jalen Moore as he is averaging 17.5 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting a team-best 51.7 percent from the field. He is also shooting 40 percent from the three-point line and 80 percent from the foul line. Two other Aggies are averaging double digits. Koby McEwen and Shane Rector are averaging 13.8 and 11.7 points per game, respectively.
As a team, Utah State is putting up 73.3 points per game and grabbing 35.9 rebounds per game. They are shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from the three.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Craig Neal is in his fourth season as head coach of the Lobos and owns a 68-43 career record. He is the only Lobo coach to win in Logan, Utah, winning in 2014 and 2015. Tim Duryea is in his second season as head coach of the Aggies. He owns a 22-22 record at Utah State.
ABOUT THE SERIES
New Mexico and Utah State will face off for the 30th time in program history on Wednesday night. The series dates back to Feb. 2, 1952. The Lobos are 8-21 against the Aggies all-time, but are 4-2 since Utah State joined the Mountain West in the 2013-14 season. On the road, the Lobos are 2-11. Their only two wins in Logan have come with Craig Neal at the helm, winning in 2014 and 2015.
Last year, the two teams split the regular season series. The Lobos claimed a 77-59 home victory on Jan. 9 before falling to the Aggies a month later on Feb. 9, 80-72 in Logan.
ABOUT THE BROADCAST
Wednesday’s night broadcast will be available on ESPNU (Comcast 281/815 (HD), Dish 141, DirecTV 208) with a 9:05 p.m. MT tip-off. The game will also be available on the radio on New Mexico’s flagship station 770 KKOB with the broadcast brought to you by Robert Portnoy and Lobo great Hunter Greene. The TuneIn radio app will also be available.