LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The defending undisputed Western Athletic Conference Champion and four-consecutive WAC Tournament Champion NM State Aggies (5-3) return to the hardwood after semester exams to meet Wyoming (5-4) on Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Pan American Center. The Aggies enter the contest 5-3 dropping a 67-53 decision at Long Beach State last Saturday. The Cowboys are 5-4 after losing at home to Southern 68-58 on Thursday. It's Star Wars Night so don't be surprised at what you may see in the galaxy of the Pan Am.
 
SERIES RECORD: This is the sixth meeting between the Aggies and the Cowboys with the series tilted in favor of the Cowboys 3-2. The teams have split the series along home lines, with neither squad winning on the other's court. Wyoming edged the Aggies 78-75 last season at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. on Nov. 29, 2014. It's the first visit by the Cowboys to the Pan American Center since Dec. 20, 1997 when NM State beat Wyoming 60-45.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE: Saturday's game can be heard live on the Aggie Sports Network and over the Las Cruces radio airwaves on KWML, 570AM with NM State Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on the call.
 
The game will be televised by AggieVision with Adam Young (play-by-play) and Patrick Knapp (analyst). The telecast will be carried by Comcast Cable in New Mexico and also air live on Fox Sports Arizona (DirecTV 686, Dish 415/5415), Fox Sports Southwest (DirecTV 676, Dish 416/5416), Fox College Sports, Altitude 2 (DirecTV 681-1) and ESPN3.
 
LIVE STATS ON THE WEB: Live stats are available for most games at www.nmstatesports.com at no cost all season long and.
 
STAR WARS NIGHT: The Force will be strong inside the Pan Am as Aggie fans are encouraged to dress like their favorite Star Wars character for the Wyoming game. NMSU Police will allow light sabers into the Pan American Center, but other replica weapons will not be allowed into the arena. Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers will be in attendance and fans can pose for photos with the Dark Side prior to the game in the arena's north concourse. Some of the best scenes from the Star Wars series will be show on the Pan American Center's video board, and Star Wars characters will make appearances throughout the game. Tickets to the game start at just $5 and are available at the Pan American Center Ticket Office, by calling 575-646-1420 or by visiting NMStateSports.com.
 
ABOUT THE AGGIES: Sophomore Pascal Siakam is on a roll this season. Last week he tallied the first 20-20 game in 13 seasons with his 24 points and 23 rebounds in a win over UTEP. It's the most rebounds for an Aggie since Chris Jackson's 23 at North Texas on Feb. 1, 2003.
 
Siakam was named the WAC Player of the Week the first three weeks of this season. He is second the nation in field goals made (77), is fifth nationally in scoring (24.9 ppg), third in rebounding (13.1 rpg) and double-doubles (7). He's 41st in blocked shots (2.25) and 40th in minutes played (35.88). He leads the WAC in all six categories as well.
 
NM State has won four straight games at home after seeing its 11-game winning streak at the Pan American Center was snapped with the 83-74 loss to New Mexico on Nov. 15. It was the first loss on the parquet floor since a 58-57 overtime loss to No. 24/25 Colorado State on Dec. 27, 2014. Still, since the start of the 2012-13 season, the Aggies sport a 49-5 record at the Pan Am (.907).
 
In the last 61 contests played by NM State at the Pan Am, the Aggies are 56-5 (.918).
 
The Aggies posted a 23-11 campaign in 2014-15 that included a 13-1 WAC record and the outright regular season championship. They won a record fourth consecutive WAC Tournament. No other program in the history of the Western Athletic Conference has ever won more than two straight tournaments.
 
The Aggies are also coming off appearing in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and five in the last six seasons. The Ags are aiming to match the school record of five straight appearances set first from 1967-to-1971 under Lou Henson and then again from 1990-to-1994 under Neil McCarthy.
 
Siakam collected his second 30-point game with his 35 points (with 13 rebounds) against Robert Morris. He becomes the first Aggie to post multiple 30-point games in the same season since Troy Gillenwater had four in 2010-11. His first was 30 points against Tennessee Tech when he became the first Aggie to score 30 since Daniel Mullings on Jan. 25, 2014 scored 32 at UT Pan American (now UT Rio Grande Valley).
 
Siakam was named by the media as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Last season's WAC Freshman of the Year, Siakam averaged 12.4 points, leading the WAC in field goal percentage (.572) and blocked shots (61, 1.8 per game). Siakam was named to the Preseason All-WAC First Team by both the coaches and media.
 
Junior Ian Baker was named to the Preseason All-WAC First Team by both the coaches and media. Currently, Baker is seventh in the WAC in scoring (14.6 ppg), fourth in 3-point field goals (2.75 pg) and sixth in assists (3.63 apg).
 
NM State had 11 of its 12 suited players score against Houston Baptist. The last time the Aggies had 11 players in the scoring totals was on Nov. 26, 2014 in a 78-33 win over Florida A&M.
 
Of the Aggies eight returning lettermen, only one didn't play in at least 26 of the teams 34 games (or 76 percent of the games) last season. Tanveer Bhullar saw action in just 10 games after missing most of the season with a foot injury.
 
Of the 14 players on the NM State roster, nine are from countries other than the United States.  Four players are from Toronto, Canada, with two from France, one from Cameroon, one from Colombia, and one from Mexico.
 
MENZIES MARKS: Now in his ninth season at New Mexico State, head coach Marvin Menzies is the Dean of WAC Coaches. Menzies is writing himself into the annals of NM State history. With a record of 180-103, Menzies is third on the all-time win list for NM State Coaches. He's reached the 175 win mark faster than the two men in front of him on the win list: Hall of Famer Lou Henson and Neil McCarthy. Henson (1966-75, 1997-2005) leads the group with 289 wins on the Aggie bench (289-152, 16 years). McCarthy (1985-97) has 229 victories (229-114, 12 years). He passed UNM's Bob King (1962-72) for ninth on the WAC all-games win list at 176 with the win over Houston Baptist. He's ninth on the win list for WAC only games with 90, and is third in WAC only winning percentage at .714 in front of the late Jerry Tarkanian at Fresno State (1995-2002). Even with all the winning, Menzies collected his first Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year Award last year when the Aggies won the regular season by five games. Menzies was named one of Forbes' top 25 college coaches for the money in November 2014.
 
SUPER SOPHOMORE SIAKAM: Sophomore Paschal Siakam is making a national name for himself with his strong play in the first third of the season. Last week, Siakam became the first Aggie to post a 20-rebound game in 13 years when he recorded the program's 10th 20-20 game with a 24-point, 23-rebound game against UTEP. Chris Jackson had the last of both on Feb. 1, 2003 when he posted 20 points and 23 boards at North Texas. The 23 boards tied for the seventh in program history and is the most in NCAA Division I this season. They were also the most in the WAC since Paul Millsap of Louisiana Tech had 28 against San Jose State on Feb. 15, 2006. Against Long Beach State he led the team with 14 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double and 14th of his career. Siakam became the first person to be selected as the WAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week in three consecutive weeks, but was not selected for this week. The 6-9 forward from Douala, Cameroon, established a new career-high when he dropped 35 points on Robert Morris to go with 13 rebounds. He followed it with 26 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots at Air Force. The 35 points are the most since Justin Hawkins scored 37 against Hawaii at the Pan Am on March 8, 2008. He is also the first Aggie to post multiple 30-point games in a season since Troy Gillenwater in 2010-11. He had 30 against Tennessee Tech, becoming the first Aggie to score 30 since Daniel Mullings had 32 against Texas-Pan American (UT Rio Grande Valley) on Jan. 25, 2014. He also chalked up 11 rebounds and set a career-best with four assists. There have been 14 back-to-back Men's Players of the Week in the WAC (including Siakam), and the closest to three straight were three in four weeks done by San Diego State's Michael Cage in 1983-84 and NM State's Daniel Mullings in 2013-14. Selected the WAC Preseason Player of the Year by the media, Siakam is second in the nation in field goals made (77), is fifth nationally in scoring (24.9 ppg), third in rebounding (13.1 rpg) and double-doubles (7), is 41st in blocked shots (2.25) and 40th in minutes played (35.88), leading the WAC in all. Siakam also has the top two scoring games in the league this year. The league's Freshman of the Year in 2014-15, Siakam was a first team All-WAC selection as a freshman and was honored as a first team NABC All-District VII performer last season. In two seasons he has 635 career points, 367 career rebounds and 79 career blocked shots.
 
THIS BAKER DELIVERS: Junior Ian Baker has been a shining star as well and rock steady running the team. The second leading scorer on the team, the 6-0 guard from Washington, D.C., is averaging 14.6 points a contest, ranked ninth in the WAC. He's also fourth in the WAC in free throw shooting, hitting 81.0 percent from the line (17-of-21). He's fourth in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.75), ninth in 3-point percentage (.393, 22-of-56) and sixth in assists (3.63). He scored a career-high 22 points against UTEP after picking up 17 points at Air Force with a career-high eight rebounds. Baker popped for 19 points in consecutive games against New Mexico and Tennessee Tech. The elder statesman of the team, Baker was named Preseason First Team All-WAC by both the coaches and the media.
 
HOOPIN HUGGINS: Sophomore Braxton Huggins is the third leading scorer for the Aggies. The 6-5 guard from Bakersfield, Calif./Mira Mesa is averaging 7.1 points with 3.1 rebounds. Huggins has been a weapon so far this season for the Aggies. He had career-highs of 15 points and five rebounds against Robert Morris. The scoring against RMU eclipsed the 14 points he netted against New Mexico in game two. He also tallied 12 points against Mississippi Valley State when he connected on a career-high four 3-pointers. This is Huggins first season to start after playing in 27 of the 34 games last season as a true freshman.
 
HENSON INDUCTED: Aggie Legend Lou Henson was officially inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 20 as part of a class of eight individuals, including three coaches, who formed the NCB Class of 2015 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Mo. Henson had a 41-year career as a collegiate head coach, all at the NCAA Division I level, posting a record of 779-412 with a 65.4 winning percentage. He's the all-time winningest coach at both New Mexico State and Illinois, and started his career at Hardin-Simmons. Henson, a 1955 graduate of NM State, coached 16 years in two stints for his alma mater, posting a 289-152 record. He also tallied a 423-224 mark in 21 years at Illinois and amassed a 67-36 record in four seasons at HSU. He is currently 11th all-time in career Division I victories, and was sixth on that list when he fully retired from the floor in January of 2005. Henson is one of only 12 coaches to take two different schools to the Final Four.
 
THE FAVORITE: New Mexico State is the prohibitive favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference by both the league's coaches and the media.  The media went on to name sophomore forward Pascal Siakam as the league's preseason player of the year.
 
The Aggies received seven of the eight first place votes and 49 points from the coaches, the most they could receive since they couldn't vote for their own team or players.  Grand Canyon was second with 39 points and CSU Bakersfield third with 36 and the other first place vote.
 
The media, with no voting restrictions, picked up 13 of the 14 first place votes and was third on the ballot that gave CSU Bakersfield a first place vote for a total of 110 points.
 
The media gave Grand Canyon second with 88 and Missouri-Kansas City third with 87.
 
Siakam and junior guard Ian Baker were the Aggies selected on both the Coaches and Media's Preseason All-WAC first team. Siakam was the media's preseason player of the year, while UMKC's Martez Harrison was the coaches preseason player of the year.
 
LOOKING BACK: New Mexico State battled through its worst shooting game of the season before falling at Long Beach State 67-53 on Dec. 5.
 
The Aggies shot just 33 percent from the floor, hitting 18-of-54 from the field. Long Beach connected on 43 percent from the field, including 56 percent from the 3-point arc as the 49ers nailed 14-of-25 long shots. NM State out rebounded Long Beach 43-36.
 
Pascal Siakam led the way for NM State, scoring 14 points with 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and 14th of his career. Ian Baker scored 10 points, while Braxton Huggins added eight.
 
ABOUT THE COWBOYS: Wyoming is 5-4 on the season after a dropping a 68-58 contest to Southern at home on Thursday night. Some counts have them at 4-4 as Wyoming counts a win over a non-statistical counting opponent, Bristol (Calif.) at the start of the season. The Cowboys are led by guard Josh Adams (6-2, Sr., Parker, Colo.) who averages 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Guard Jason McManamen (6-5, Jr., Torrington, Wyo.) adds 10.8 points and 2.8 boards per contest. Forward Alan Herndon (6-9, So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) chips in 7.5 points with leads the team with 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Wyoming is scoring 71.0 points a game, and allowing 68.8 per contest.
 
AGAINST THE REST OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST: The Aggies are 2-6 against Mountain West teams other than Rio Grande Rival New Mexico, split in two eras. The Aggies played San Diego State to a 2-1 record from Nov. 1999-Nov. 2001, then didn't play again until Nov. 2013. While the MWC has won five straight, all have been settled by four points or less, with three of the last four game going to overtime.
 
11/28/15           at Air Force                                      L-ot             64-66
12/27/14           Colorado State                                L-ot             57-58
11/29/14           at Wyoming                                     L                  75-78
3/20/14             vs. San Diego State (NCAA)        L-ot             69-73
11/30/13           at Colorado State                           L                  83-85
11/24/01           San Diego State                              W                 94-79
11/29/00           at San Diego State                         L                  62-77
11/30/99           San Diego State                              W                 66-49
 
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Aggies begin tough holiday campaign that leads them to Western Athletic Conference play. NM State hosts Wyoming Sunday, travels to rivals UNM and UTEP on Wednesday and Saturday, hosts Oral Roberts a week from Monday (Dec. 21) then goes to No. 16/15 Baylor on Dec. 23. After Christmas, it's at Wichita State on Dec. 28, home for NAIA No. 4 Arizona Christian on Dec. 30 and a trip to UC Irvine on Jan. 2.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Aggies being the second half of the rivalry season as they venture up I-25 for game two of the Rio Grande Rivalry against the New Mexico Lobos on Wednesday night.
 
The Lobos are 5-2 on the season after losing at Purdue 70-58 on Dec. 5. They host Northern Iowa on Saturday before welcoming the Aggies next Wednesday. The Lobos are led by guard Elijah Brown (6-4, So., Orange County, Calif.) who averages 17.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. Guard Cullen Neal (6-4, So., Albuquerque, N.M.), the son of head coach Craig Neal, adds 16.9 points, 2.9 boards and 4.4 assists per contest. Both Brown and Neal average 2.4 3-pointers a game. Forward Tim Williams (6-8, Jr., Flossmoor, Ill.) contributes in 16.1 points and leads the team with 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks an outing. UNM is scoring 78.6 points a game, and allowing 68.6 per contest.