LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Sitting at 18-2 on the year, the New Mexico State men's basketball team lays its 16-game winning-streak on the line this weekend when it hits the road for a three-game road swing. Up first for the Aggies in conference action will be the Redhawks of Seattle U on Thursday, Jan. 26, inside Key Arena.
 
Dave Grosby will have the call on the WAC Digital Network while Gary Hill, Jr. serves as the analyst for Thursday's contest.
 
The 16-game winning-streak for NM State is currently tied with Oregon for the nation's third-longest winning-streak through Monday night's games and trails just Gonzaga (20) and Kansas (18). Arizona and Cincinnati are the only other teams that have a double-digit win-streak at 12 and 10, respectively.
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
The next time NM State returns home will be Saturday, Feb. 4, when the Aggies entertain Chicago State on alumni weekend. The game against the Cougars is sponsored by GEICO and will be the final installment of the special edition Aggie snapback hat giveaway. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will get their hands on the snapback hat.
 
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 Saturday night on 99.5 Zia Country and affiliate stations. Fans can also listen to the game live with their mobile or tablet device on the TuneIn app for free. The game will be available on following affiliate stations as well:
 
Alamogordo      103.7 FM KNMZ
Albuquerque     101.7 FM KQTM
Carlsbad          1240 AM KAMQ
Gallup              1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas        107.1 FM KMDS
 
WAC MINI PLAN PACK
Aggie fans can still purchase the $50 WAC mini pack for the four remaining games and still save a total of $22. Fans choosing to buy adjacent seats for the Four for $50 WAC mini-pack will not be required to make an AAC donation for the designated seats. Games selected in the mini-pack can't be purchased on game day.
 
For more information, please visit the Pan American Center box office or call 575-646-1420.
 
ALUMNI WEEKEND AROUND THE CORNER
The NM State men's basketball alumni weekend is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, when the Aggies host Chicago State at 7 p.m. A host of activities are lined up for those returning to Las Cruces, beginning on Friday, Feb. 3.
 
Aggie basketball alums are encouraged to sign up by Jan. 31, by contacting special events coordinator, Nicole Gomez via email (nicolemg@nmsu.edu) or by phone at 575-646-8050.
 
AGGIES TURN FOCUS TOWARDS EMERALD CITY
First on the docket for New Mexico State will be Seattle U on Thursday, Jan. 26. The two programs have squared off 14 teams in program history with the Aggies winning the last four meetings. The Redhawks are currently 9-10 overall on the year and 1-3 in league play. Their lone win in conference play came against Chicago State at home. SU had an opportunity to clip Grand Canyon on the road, but a misstep in the closing minutes saw them fall 61-59 to the Lopes.
 
Brendan Westendorf, a unanimous WAC Preseason First-Team selection, leads Seattle U in the scoring column with 15.4 points per game and a team-high .882 shooting clip at the line. Aaron Menzies is second on the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game, has been out the last five contests – including the entire WAC season so far. Menzies still paces the Redhawks on the glass with 6.1 boards per game with next closest player being Westendorf at 4.4 boards per game.
 
William Powell is the only other player averaging in double-figures for SU, averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 boards with a .454 shooting clip. He's also been to the line 104 times, basically doubling up the next closest player at 56. Powell also owns a team-best 67 assists, while Westendorf trails him with 63 dimes.
 
Matej Kavas paces Seattle U in conference play with 17.3 points per game while Westerndorf checks in with 15.8 points per game. Manny Chibuogwu, who has started all four games, is the third Redhawks averaging in double-figures with 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. Powell leads the team both in rebounds (4.8) and assists (19), but is 4-of-11 from the line during the same stretch.
 
GUESS WHO'S BACK!?
The NM State men's basketball team is set to return to the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., as it takes on Northern New Mexico on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. This is the second time in as many years the Aggies will be playing the Eagles in Rio Rancho.
 
This is the second year the Aggies will take the court at the Santa Ana Star Center. Last February, nearly 2,500 fans watched New Mexico State clinch an 85-54 victory over Northern New Mexico at the neutral-site venue.
 
Reserved seats start at $10, with center court seats going for $20 and a limited number of courtside seats available at $50.
 
Ticket reservations are now being accepted by NM State at the Pan American Center Ticket Office, either in person or by calling (575) 646-1420. Fans can also order tickets through Santa Ana Star Center starting 10:00 AM Friday, December 2 by calling (888) 694-4849, online at SantaAnaStarCenter.com, or in person at Don Chalmers Ford Box Office at Santa Ana Star Center.
 
The New Mexico State Alumni Association will also be hosting a pregame reception before Monday's game. RSVPs for the event must be made by Jan. 25.
 
PRE-GAME RECEPTION WITH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Monday, January 30, 2017
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
 
Santa Ana Star Center, VIP Lounge
3001 Civic Center Circle NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87144 (map)
 
Reception ticket: $15.00 per person
Includes light appetizers, cash bar available.
 
LAST TIME OUT
New Mexico State walked away with a resounding 94-71 victory last Saturday over visiting UMKC for its 38th-consecutive victory at home in league play. The Aggies were led by senior Ian Baker who had 20 points with three triples. Johnathon Wilkins put together a career-night with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 2-for-2 effort beyond the arc while Jemerrio Jones chipped in with his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Braxton Huggins also added 10 points of his own on 4-of-8 shooting.
 
UP NEXT
After leaving the Emerald City, the Aggies head south to Utah Valley for a 7 p.m. tip against the Wolverines on Saturday, Jan. 28, on the WAC Digital Network. Following Saturday's contest, NM State returns to the Land of Enchantment where they prepare for a 7 p.m. contest against Northern New Mexico on Monday, Jan. 30, at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.