LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State men's basketball team returns home to the Pan American Center to host Samford at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, for its opening game of the University of San Diego Classic.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State men's basketball team all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by following @AggieArmy.
 
LISTEN UP!
Aggie fans that can't make it to the game can listen to NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on 99.5 Zia Country or listen to the game live with their mobile or tablet device on the TuneIn app for free. In addition, fans can listen to the game on the following affiliate stations:
 
Alamagordo      103.7 FM KNMZ
Carlsbad           1240 AM KAMQ
Gallup               1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas         107.1 FM KMDS
 
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Wednesday's game day promotion includes a "Chile" race for fans as well as a chance to win tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. For a complete look at the Aggie men's basketball 2016-17 promotion calendar, click here.
 
CENTURY MARK
Last Friday's home-opening 100-52 win was the first time the Aggies have hit the century mark since Feb. 23, 2012, against Hawaii. Friday was just the 10th time NM State has reached the 100 point mark in a season-opening game.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Samford went 14-19 last year and 4-14 in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs are picked to finish seventh in the SoCon this season in both the coaches' and media poll. The all-time series between Aggies and Bulldogs sits a 1-1 with each team winning at home. Wednesday's contest between the two teams will be the first time they've faced off in 40 years.
 
The Bulldogs return a pair of starters in guard Christen Cunningham and center Wyatt Walker. Cunningham is the team's leading scorer from last year, averaging 14.4 points, 2.8 boards and 3.9 assists. Walker, a sophomore center for the Bulldogs, averaged 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds last season.
 
Samford gained the services of three players who redshirted last season in Alex Thompson (Auburn), Demetrius Denzel-Dyson (UMass) and Gerald Smith (Medical). On top of those three coming off their redshirts, are six newcomers – two of which are transfers from Alabama and Ole Miss while the other four are true freshmen.
 
Samford had success from 3-point range last game, knocking down 10-of-25 shots. Denzel-Dyson knocked down four while Thompson hit three. Cunningham added two of his own with Josh Sharkey sinking one.
 
SAN DIEGO CLASSIC
Samford opened their season at San Diego, the host of the tournament, this past Monday and cruised to an 83-65 win. UMass transfer Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, who sat out last season due to the NCAA transfer rules, led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 from downtown to go with his five rebounds. Alex Thompson (17), Wyatt Walker (16), Christen Cunningham (14) and Josh Sharkey were also in double-figures for the Bulldogs. Samford shot 47-percent from the floor to San Diego's 41-percent and out-rebounded the Toreros 43-29.
 
LAST TIME OUT
An extended scoring drought in the second half saw the NM State men's basketball team drop a 64-61 decision to Colorado State last Sunday afternoon at Moby Arena. Ian Baker led the Aggies (1-1) with 16 points while Eli Chuha tallied 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Jemerrio Jones had a solid night once again for NM State, scoring nine points on nine boards with two blocks and two steals.
 
NM State played well in the first half, outshooting the Rams and hit 41.4-percent of its shots to CSU's 25.9-percent. However, foul trouble in the second half and the Aggie offense settling for too many 3-pointers saw Colorado claw back. Colorado State made 24-of-31 shots at the line compared to the Aggies' 11of-14 to take the lead for good on top of a 16-2 edge in second-chance points.
 
MOVIN' ON UP
With the start of his senior season, Ian Baker will have a chance to move himself up the all-time career-list in the 3-point shooting category at New Mexico State. The senior is currently seventh all-time in 3-pointers made with 139, and could move all the way up to third all-time if numbers are similar to that of last season. The same should go for the 3-point field-goal attempts category. Baker is also tied for seventh right now with Gordo Castillo (2007-11) in the career 3-point shooting-percentage, checking in with a .407 clip heading into the start of the season.
 
THE AGGIE ARMY WANTS YOU!
Be a part of the @AggieArmy student section NOW for just $20 and receive a limited edition Under Armour shirt, priority seating and pizza during pregame at ALL home men's basketball games. You'll also get plugged into inside scoop about the men's basketball team, including special events and news. To join, click here.
 
GO, GO, GO!
With the 2016-17 season beginning this past Friday, Nov. 11, it was the start of a wild 15-day stretch for NM State. The Aggies are set to play seven games in 15 days, including three on the road and will be traveling over 3,000 miles between three states during that stretch.
 
HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE
New Mexico State has enjoyed a lot of success in the friendly confines of the Pan American Center throughout the years and history proves it. Heading into the 2016-17 season, NM State is 589-151 (.796) all-time inside the Pan Am and can notch its 600th win this season.
 
With the home-opening 100-52 win on Friday, the Aggies inch one game closer to reaching the 600 win plateau since the opening of the Pan Am Center.
 
Since its debut in the Pan Am Center for the 1968-69 season, NM State has gone undefeated four times, with the last perfect season at home coming in 1989-90. Heading into its 49th season at the Pan Am, NM State has only had seven season with less than 10 wins and of those seven season, the Aggies have been under .500 at home twice through 741 games.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State now heads to Albuquerque for the first installment of the Battle of I-25 rivalry scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, in The Pit of WisePies Arena. Following Friday's rivalry match, NM State returns home to host Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 20) and Nicholls State (Nov. 22) on Sunday and next Tuesday, respectively, as part of the San Diego Classic.