LAS CRUCES, N.M. - NM State men's basketball is headed back to Mexico this fall as the Aggies will compete in the 2025 Cancun Challenge, joining a field that includes Utah Valley, Samford, Georgia State, South Dakota State and UC Irvine. The event is slated for Nov. 25-26 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
The Aggies will kick off the challenge with a home game inside the Pan American Center, hosting Samford on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. From there, NM State will head south of the border to open tournament play against UC Irvine on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m. The Aggies will conclude their run in Cancun the following day when they take on Georgia State at 1 p.m.
This will be the Aggies' second appearance in the invitational over the past three seasons. NM State most recently competed in the 2023 Cancun Challenge, beginning with a 76-71 home victory over Northern Colorado. Once in Cancun, the Aggies battled Fresno State to overtime before narrowly falling, and later came up short against Southern Illinois in their final game. That year, James Madison captured the tournament title with a decisive 95-64 win over Fresno State.
Last year's Cancun Challenge featured Belmont, Bethune-Cookman, Gardner-Webb, LMU, North Dakota, Southeastern Louisiana, Tulane and Wyoming. LMU emerged as the 2024 champion after edging Wyoming, 73-70, in the title game.
The Aggies' full non-conference schedule will be released at a later date.
For more information on the Cancun Challenge, including ticket and fan travel packages, visit the official tournament website: Cancun Challenge
2025 Men's Cancun Challenge
U.S. GAMES
Home team listed second
Wednesday, Nov. 19
UC Irvine at Utah Valley, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 21
Georgia State at South Dakota State, time TBD
Samford at New Mexico State, 9 p.m. ET
MEXICO GAMES
Home team listed second
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Samford vs. Georgia State, 3 p.m. ET
Utah Valley vs. South Dakota State, 6 p.m. ET
New Mexico State vs. UC Irvine, 8:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Georgia State vs. New Mexico State, 3 p.m. ET
Samford vs. Utah Valley, 6 p.m. ET
South Dakota State vs. UC Irvine, 8:30 p.m. ET
For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball during the 2025-26 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB)
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