OREM, Utah – After winning its 17th-straight game on Thursday, the New Mexico State men's basketball now sets its eyes on Utah Valley. The Aggies and Wolverines are set to clash Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. on the WAC Digital Network as it looks to remain perfect in Western Athletic Conference action.
 
Brandon Crow will have the call for Saturday's conference showdown while Matt Peterson serves as the analyst.
 
The 17-game winning-streak for NM State is currently tied with Oregon for the nation's second-longest winning-streak through Thursday night's games and trails just Gonzaga (21). Arizona and Cincinnati's streak sits at 13 and 11, respectively, while Akron, Illinois State and Belmont round out the teams with double-digit win-streaks with 10 apiece.
 
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.
 
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.
 
AGGIES AND WOLVERIES SET TO CLASH ON WAC DIGITAL NETWORK
When the Aggies and Wolverines take the court on Saturday, NM State holds the all-time lead at 5-1 with its lone blemish against Utah Valley coming in 2014. The Aggies dropped that game 66-61 in overtime at the UCCU Center.
 
Big key for New Mexico State will be to get off to a good start in the first half, as opponents have outscored Utah Valley 753-733. The Wolverines are a much better second-half team, outscoring opponents 845-755 through 20 games.
 
Conner Toolson paces a group of four UVU players averaging in double-figures with 14.2 points per game. Isaac Neilson is the team's second-leading scorers at 11.4 points per game while Brandon Randolph checks in with 10.5 points per game. Kenneth Ogbe rounds out the group of double-digit scorers at 10.4 points per game.
 
Neilson has paced the conference in rebounds for most of the year and enters Saturday's game with an average 9.6 rebounds while Randolph averages 6.2 per game. Neilson is also averaging 2.0 blocks for the Wolverines on defense. In addition to being the team's second-leading rebounder, Randolph paces the team with 4.6 rebounds per game (92).
 
Randolph leads the team in scoring in conference play for UVU, checking in with 13.2 points per game while Toolson trails him with 12.2 points per game. Ogbe is just short of averaging double-digits for the Wolverines at 9.6 points.
 
As a team, UVU is shooting a .436 clip from the field and .318 clip from 3-point range as they challenge the Aggies, who have held opponents to just a .283 shooting clip from downtown.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a tough shooting night, the New Mexico State men's basketball team found a way to click offensively in the second-half and grinded out a 71-56 win over Seattle U in Key Arena for its 17th-consecutive victory.
 
The Aggies closed out the remaining 5:05 of the game with a 17-6 run that included seven free throws in the last 1:11.
 
Ian Baker recorded just the third double-double of his career with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Jemerrio Jones wrapped up with his seventh double-double of the season, pouring in 16 points on 10 boards in addition to five assists and two steals. Eli Chuha exploded late in the game, scoring 12 of his 14 points with Jermaine Haley adding 10 points of his own.
 
UP NEXT
New Mexico State will finally close out its six-day three-game road swing in Rio Rancho on Monday, Jan. 30, when it hosts a neutral site match against Northern New Mexico. The non-conference match-up is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Santa Ana Star Center.