Rio Grande Rivalry Returns: Aggies, Lobos Renew Battle Saturday in Las Cruces
Former UNM guard Donovan Dent skies for a game-winning layup against former New Mexico State guard Jaylin Jackson-Posey on Dec. 15, 2023. Photo courtesy of UNM Athletics.
The Rio Grande Rivalry is back in Las Cruces, with UNM men's basketball facing New Mexico State at the Pan American Center on Saturday at 7 pm.
“Obviously it’s the biggest game in the State and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Eric Olen said after the UC Riverside game. “As competitors…. you want to be in hostile environments and play well in that situation.”
The Aggies are 2-0 on the year after beating D-II opponents Adams State 83-72 and New Mexico Highlands 74-58.
NMSU has a roster of 13 new players with only two returners from last season. The leading scorer for the Aggies this year is Cal State Bakersfield transfer guard Jemel Jones (6’4). He is averaging 23.5 points through two games and is shooting 5-10 from the 3-point line.
East Carolina transfer center Cyr Malonga (6’11) and Idaho transfer forward Julius Mims (6’9) are expected to be impact players for the Aggies this season. Mims had 12 points and 8 rebounds vs. Adams State but did not play against NMHU because of a concussion.
He is expected to play vs. UNM.
Malonga is a rim finisher and looks to be one of NMSU’s more physical players. He had 16 points and 6 rebounds vs. Adams State.
Tense Rivalry
The last two Rio Grande Rivalry games delivered plenty of entertainment. Last season, the Aggies shot lights out in The Pit from the 3-point line as forward Robert Carpenter and guard Christian Cook shot a combined 12-21 from beyond the arc.
Both exhausted their eligibility last season.
The Lobos won the last game at the Pan-Am Center 73-72 on Donovan Dent’s game winning layup.
The teams are a dead even 5-5 in the last 10 games. UNM owns the overall series 129-104, according to UNM’s sports information department.
UNM will be playing against its biggest crowd of the season. In the Dec. 15, 2023, matchup at the Pan Am Center, the Aggies drew 5,182 fans.
“We tried to play this game (this year) when we knew our students would be here,” said New Mexico State men’s basketball coach Jason Hooten. “We unfortunately played them at their place last year and the year before that, we played them the night before our bowl game and didn’t give our students an opportunity to watch this game…”
Another Volume Scorer?
Against UCR, UNM’s defense allowed Andrew Henderson to get into a rhythm in the late first and early second halves. Henderson scored 24 of his 27 points during a 13 minute stretch.
Jones looks to be that same kind of player for NMSU.
The pre-season All Conference USA selection averaged 18.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.1 apg at Cal State Bakersfield last seaon.
Jones is familiar to Eric Olen and most of UNM’s coaching staff. In a February 13th Big West Conference game against Olen’s UC San Diego team, Jones scored 29 points on 12-23 shooting.
Speed or Power?
UNM’s dribble penetration against UCR looked a little different without Deyton Albury and Uriah Tenette.
Rather than the flashy speed and explosiveness that Albury and Tenette bring, UNM saw guard Luke Haupt and forward Chris Howell muscle their way into the lane for a combined 26 points.
“It’s not a coincidence that D-A and Uriah who give us a lot of rim pressure and shot creation aren’t available, and then Chris and Luke are more aggressive,” Olen said. “They have such a great understanding of what the game requires of them…”
The Lobo offense may need to rely on the methodical muscle of Haupt and Howell vs. the Aggies. Albury and Tenette are still day-to-day, and no official update is expected until warmups.
UNM can expect New Mexico State to turn up the ball pressure on defense. The Aggies forced 43 combined turnovers in their first two games.
The blueprint for NMSU head coach Jason Hooten has been strong defense. Last season, the Aggies were ranked high in several defensive statistical categories including, 11th in field goal percentage defense (39.6%).
“To me, that is the one statistic I look at,” Hooten said on the Talking Grammar Podcast in July. “When I get in there at halftime and I take a stat sheet, the first thing I look at is what are they shooting from the field.”
UNM is coming off its best shooting percentage of the season against UCR, going 52% overall from the field and 62% from 2-point field goals.
Saturday’s game can be streamed on ESPN + or fans can listen on KKOB radio.
