LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Fresh off its fourth-straight win and sweep of Battle of I-10 rival UTEP Thursday, the New Mexico State men's basketball team returns home to entertain Prairie View A&M at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, in the Pan American Center.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State men's basketball team all season on Twitter and Instagram by following @NMStateMBB and on Facebook at FB.com/NMStateMBB.
 
LISTEN UP!
Aggie fans that can't make it Sunday's contest can catch the game by listening to NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on 99.5 Zia Country and affiliate stations on the Aggie Sports Network listed below.
 
Alamogordo      103.7 FM KNMZ
Albuquerque     1150 AM KNMM
Carlsbad           1240 AM KAMQ
El Paso             1380 AM KHEY
Gallup               1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas         107.1 FM KMDS
 
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
The 4-for-$40 ticket special for Aggie fans is back by popular demand and the first game that will be available is this Sunday, Dec. 3, when NM State plays host to Prairie View A&M. Fans MUST take advantage of this ticket special in ADVANCE and won't be available on gameday. Those that purchase the ticket special will receive four tickets, four sodas and four hot dogs for a totally of just $40.
 
To take advantage of this perfect stocking stuffer, fans can purchase the ticket special at the Pan American Center box office or by calling 575-646-1420.
 
There will also be a postgame autograph session with the men's basketball team following Sunday's contest against Prairie View A&M.
 
BATTLING THE PANTHERS
Sitting at 2-4, the visiting Prairie View A&M Panthers visit the Pan American Center for the fifth time in program history and the first visit since the 2013 season. New Mexico State holds a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series, winning all four contests at home. The Aggies have outscored the Panthers in those four games 354-253. NM State's largest margin of victory came in the very first meeting in 2007, 80-43.
 
The Panthers are led by second-year head coach Byron Smith, who was named the head coach last season after serving as the interim for half of the 2015-16 campaign. Since taking over, Smith owns a 21-30 overall record.
 
Zachary Hamilton leads a trio of players averaging in double-figures with 17.8 points per game. The 6-4 senior also leads the team in 3-point shooting with 15 made shots so far.
 
Second on the scoring list for Prairie View A&M is Gary Blackston, who checks in with 16.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. The 6-2 guard is the reigning SWAC Player of the Week after averaging 21 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in two games the previous week. He also leads the Panthers with 19 assists on the year.
 
Last, but not least, is Dennis Jones – who is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 steals and 2.5 assists on the year. The redshirt junior has been a great boost for Prairie View A&M off the bench all season.
 
The Panthers started the year off with a pair of tough Power-5 opponents in Utah and Oregon on the road followed by a tough UNLV team led by former Aggie head men's basketball coach Marvin Menzies. Prairie View A&M's two wins came against Eastern Kentucky and Georgia State in the MGM Resorts Main Event Tournament.
 
IN THE NATION
Through games on Thursday, Nov. 30, NM State is ranked in the top-25 nationally in three categories as a team while Jemerrio Jones is ranked in the top-25 nationally for individuals.
 
After last night's 45-25 edge against UTEP on the glass, New Mexico State is ranked 12th in defensive rebounds per game at 31.0 while its +15.0 rebounding margin ranks it third in the country. Meanwhile, the 44.0 rebounds per game is good for 11th amongst NCAA Division I members.
 
Jones is fourth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (4.5) and seventh in the country when it comes to rebounds per game (11.8). He's also right outside the top-25 in defensive rebounds per game (26th), total rebounds (28th) and double-doubles (31st).
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies claimed an 80-60 victory over Battle of I-10 rival UTEP this past Thursday for its seventh-straight win over the Miners. The Aggies have also won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two programs. The 20-point victory margin on the road was the most since 2015 when NM State claimed a 75-53 win.
 
The victory gave head coach Chris Jans his first rivalry sweep, who now joins Ken Hayes, Lou Henson and Paul Weir as the only coaches to sweep UTEP in their first year at the helm. In addition, this is the first time since the 1952-53 season that NM State has swept UTEP in consecutive games on its schedule.

Fans that didn't get a chance to watch Thursday's win over UTEP can view it for free by clicking here. 
 
UP NEXT
The homestand for New Mexico State continues as San Diego comes to town to complete the contract after the Aggies played at USD in the San Diego Classic last season.  Aggie fans can purchase tickets for the game against the Toreros by visiting the Pan American Center ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 575-646-1420.