UTEP, New Mexico State basketball set for Conference USA opener in Las Cruces
The New Mexico State and UTEP men's basketball teams have been rivals for many years.
But the 2023-24 season brings a new twist. In previous years, the I-10 rivals, whose campuses are less than an hour apart, played twice a year as non-conference opponents.
But this year with the addition of New Mexico State to Conference USA, the teams will play twice as conference opponents, beginning Thursday with the first game in the Pan American Center in Las Cruces.
The second matchup is set for Feb. 10 in El Paso.
The series
New Mexico State leads the series, 121-104. The last time UTEP won in Las Cruces was a 74-72 victory on Nov. 30, 2010.
It is the Miners’ oldest series, while rating as the second-oldest series for the Aggies. It started in 1914 and the two squads squared off at least twice annually every year since 1944-45 before Covid interrupted. This season marks the first time that the two foes will lock up in a conference contest since the 1961-62 season when both teams were members of the Border Conference.
TV, Radio
The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network and broadcast in El Paso on 600 ESPN El Paso and in Las Cruces on Zia Country 99.5.
NMSU key players
The Aggies will be led in part by post Kaosi Ezeagu and guards Robert Carpenter, Jaylin Jackson-Posey and Femi Odukale.
Carpenter scored 20 points in a win vs. California Baptist last Saturday.
Ezeagu no stranger to UTEP
Ezeagu played in 29 games and made eight starts for a Rodney Terry-led Miners team during the 2019-20 season. He averaged 3.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 12.4 minutes per game and led the team in field goal percentage (56.9%).
UTEP key players
The Miners are led by guards Tae Hardy and Zid Powell. Hardy is averaging 14.4 points per game and Powell is averaging 12.1 points per game. Forward Otis Frazier III is averaging 10.6 points per game.
Aggies are tough at home
The Aggies have lost just once at home this year — a 73-72 loss to in-state rival New Mexico.
Miners, Aggies have played tough schedules
New Mexico State has played New Mexico twice, Kentucky, Louisville, Tulsa and California Baptist.
The Miners have played California. Oregon, Bradley, Wyoming and Norfolk State.
Keys to the game
The Miners shoot just 28.6% from the field and if they shoot that against NMSU, they could be in for a long night.
NMSU has lost several close games this year, but with its last win at home against a winning team in California Baptist, things could be turning around. How they react in what could be another close game will be crucial.
The Miners have lost three true road games this year and are 1-1 on a neutral court. How will the Miners react on the road in what will likely be a boisterous crowd against them?
More: NMSU men pick up home win Robert Carpenter's powerful performance lifts New Mexico State past California Baptist
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X (Formerly Twitter)
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP, New Mexico State set for Conference USA opener in Las Cruces
